gb news. >> hello. good afternoon and welcome to gp news on tv, online and on digital radio. i'm nana akua. and for the next few hours, me and my panel will be taking on some of the big topics hitting the headlines right now . hitting the headlines right now. this show is all about opinion. it's it's theirs. and it's mine, it's theirs. and of course yours. be course it's yours. we'll be debating, discussing at debating, discussing and at times disagree , but no times we will disagree, but no one will be cancelled. so joining in the next hour, joining me in the next hour, broadcaster and columnist lizzie cundy and also former labour party adviser james schneider, coming up on the show , philip coming up on the show, philip davies mp will be shining a light on the latest from westminster in my political spotlight. my first great british debate. this hour i'm asking has the grand national gone past its sell by date?

we'll also be bringing you what's happening there at four when the race kicks off. then my difficult conversation. joining me studio, barrister, me in the studio, barrister, writer and campaigner stephen barrett. in a few moments time, i'll be mocking the week with gb news presenter darren grimes. but we get started, let's but before we get started, let's get your latest news with sam francis. >> nana, thank you very much and good afternoon from the newsroom just after 3:00, and we start with our top story of the day. the king says he is shocked and horrified by a mass knife attack in a shopping centre near bondi beach in sydney, which killed six people. a 40 year old male suspect was known to police. however, the incident is not believed to be terror related. that attack ended when a lone female officer confronted the alleged attacker and shot him dead. police commissioner karen webb says a major investigation is now underway . is now underway. >> police have secured the crime

scene, which you can imagine is expansive inside a very big, busy commercial shopping centre in sydney and the crime scene remains ongoing and it will remains ongoing and it will remain ongoing for a number of days. >> in other news, commandos from iran have landed on a container ship in a helicopter and seized the vessel off the coast of the united arab emirates. the vessel involved is believed to have links to israel and comes amid rising tensions in the region and threats from iran. the islamic republic has called israel's presence in the uae a threat , and israel's presence in the uae a threat, and warned it would close the region's shipping lane if provoked . meanwhile, as if provoked. meanwhile, as tensions in the middle east continue, the us president has said that he fears an iranian attack on america's allies will come. he says sooner rather than later. however, joe biden had this warning for tehran. >> we are devoted to the defence of israel. we will support

israel . we will defend, help israel. we will defend, help defend israel, and iran will not succeed. thank you very much. >> the iranian government promised revenge for an israeli air strike on its consulate in damascus that killed some of its top commanders . in response, top commanders. in response, though, the us has said it is now moving additional assets to the middle east and countries including india, france and poland have also warned their citizens against travelling to poland have also warned their citizregion ainst travelling to poland have also warned their citizregion .inst travelling to poland have also warned their citizregion . int travelling to poland have also warned their citizregion . in otherzlling to poland have also warned their citizregion . in other news,to poland have also warned their citizregion . in other news, a new the region. in other news, a new poll has found that president biden has nearly erased donald trump's advantage. that poll , by trump's advantage. that poll, by the new york times and siena college found that 45% say they would vote for the current president, compared to mr trump's 46. it means they're now virtually tied with joe biden's standing among floating voters, improving . however, despite improving. however, despite a strong economy, almost 80% rated economic conditions as either fair or poor . economic conditions as either fair or poor. more than 29 people are still stranded in cable cars above a mountain in

southern turkey. that's after one of the cabins hit a broken pole and ripped open , sending pole and ripped open, sending some of the passengers falling to the ground. one person died in that collision and several others are injured . officials others are injured. officials shared footage from the ongoing rescue operation. you can see there if you're watching on television, involved more than 600 search and rescue personnel, eight helicopters and even a cargo plane back here in the uk. greater manchester police say that they have found what they believe to be human remains of a young baby in wigan. five people have been arrested on suspicion of concealing a death and unlawful burial. the group, aged between 20 and 70, have been bailed . the chancellor says he bailed. the chancellor says he is ready to cut taxes and to bet on growth. that's after the economy grew by nought point i% in february. the office for national statistics has also revised january's figure, pushing it up to 0.3. writing in the daily express, jeremy hunt

says britain has done the hard yards and that the economy , he yards and that the economy, he says, is bouncing back. but labour says most people aren't feeling any of the benefits, with low growth and higher taxes under the conservative government the chief executive of nhs england has called out what she's called unacceptable abusive behaviour that doctors and nurses face in the workplace. amanda pritchard says the health service needs to stamp out abusive behaviour , and stamp out abusive behaviour, and that it shouldn't be exempt from its own metoo movement. according to a major survey, there were 80,000 reports of nhs staff in england being sexually harassed while at work last yean harassed while at work last year, reports were more prevalent among ambulance staff, nursing staff and healthcare assistants . labour has claimed assistants. labour has claimed that britain's roads now have 100 times as many potholes as there are craters on the moon. figures estimate that there were more than 100 million potholes in the uk last year, which can

cause serious damage to cars . cause serious damage to cars. the party's deputy leader, angela rayner, says rishi sunak is living on another planet after failing to fix the problem. the government, though, says it is investing billions of pounds to improve our roads and there are just a few hours to go until one of horse racing's biggest events of the year , the biggest events of the year, the grand national. but there have been some changes. new safety measures are in place, meaning six fewer horses are taking part in the event. it's after four horses died last year. however campaigners say changes to this afternoon's event are nothing more than a pr stunt. after two other horses died just yesterday on the track, though it will be as competitive as ever for the million pound prize . that's the million pound prize. that's the latest from the newsroom for now. more in half an hour until then, do sign up to gb news alerts. just scan that code there on your screen go there on your screen or go to gbnews.com/alerts .

gbnews.com/alerts. >> good afternoon. this is gb news on tv, online and on digital radio. i am nana akua now. first, today's big story. six people have been killed in a knife attack at a shopping centre near bondi beach in sydney, australia. several others were injured, including a nine month old baby. the undergone surgery all very sad. the baby's mother reportedly died in hospital . witnesses have died in hospital. witnesses have also described the terrifying scenes as i didn't see him properly. >> i was running, but it's just it was insane. it was insanity. i wasn't expecting it. >> some guy running around stabbing people seems pretty random. probably a terrorist attack. >> we saw all these people running towards us, and then we heard a shot . heard a shot. >> well, the knifeman was known to police, but the attack is not believed to be terror related. police commissioner karen webb gave this update earlier. >> at 330 this afternoon, a male

with a knife entered the westfield shopping centre at bondi junction and attacked a number of people. police were called and a police officer responded and faced that man and neutralised the threat. within that shopping centre. other police attended and helped witnesses and shopkeepers and others that were in the shopping centre move on from the shopping centre. as a result , there were centre. as a result, there were four female women deceased in the shopping centre and one male and subsequently another female passed away in hospital, taking it to a total of six plus the death of the offender . there are death of the offender. there are about eight people in hospitals around sydney being treated for different injuries associated

with being attacked in the hospital in sorry at the shopping centre, including a nine month old infant that is being has been in surgery . being has been in surgery. police have secured the crime scene, which you can imagine is expansive inside a very big, busy commercial shopping centre in sydney and the crime scene remains ongoing and it will remains ongoing and it will remain ongoing for a number of days. the shopping centre will in fact be closed tomorrow for trade and westfield will work with police to assist in the removal of vehicles etc. from the shopping centre tomorrow. but in the meantime, the shopping centre will remain a crime scene . later this evening crime scene. later this evening we became aware of who we

believe the offender is, and we believe the offender is, and we believe that he is a 40 year old man . however, we are waiting to man. however, we are waiting to formally identify him and we cannot speculate yet on his identification. but let me assure you that we are confident that there is no ongoing risk and we are dealing with one person who is now deceased . and, person who is now deceased. and, are there any questions? >> what do you know about this 40 year old man at this stage? >> well, i actually will hand over to the deputy commissioner who's acting for investigations about why we know a little bit about why we know a little bit about this person. >> but as i said, we're waiting to confirm his identification. >> and if, in fact, it is the person that we believe it is, then we don't have fears for

that person holding an ideation . that person holding an ideation. >> well, authorities say that many more might have been killed and had it not been for the actions of the lone police officer who confronted the attacker. australia's prime minister anthony hopkins, has thanked the country's brave police and first responders. >> today, bondi junction was the scene of shocking violence, but it was also witness to the humanity and the heroism of our fellow australians, our brave police , our first responders and police, our first responders and of course, everyday people who could never have imagined that they would face such a moment. and some of the footage is quite extraordinary . extraordinary. >> so the royal family have responded to the terrible news. the king has released a statement saying my wife and i were utterly shocked and horrified to hear of the tragic stabbing incident in bondi. our hearts go out to the families and ones of those who have and loved ones of those who have been brutally killed during

been so brutally killed during such attack . whilst such a senseless attack. whilst details these shocking details of these shocking circumstances are still emerging, are also emerging, our thoughts are also with those who were involved in the response give thanks the response and we give thanks for bravery of first for the bravery of first responders emergency responders and emergency services and the prince and princess of wales. they said this. we're shocked and saddened by the terrible events in sydney earlier today. our thoughts are with all those affected, including the loved ones of those lost and the heroic emergency responders who risked their own lives save others . their own lives to save others. well, coming up, darren grimes will be making light of this week's top stories in mock the week. then, at 320, my hot topic will be a roundtable discussion on the ongoing trans debate. i've got three brilliant guests joining me in the studio. you will not want to miss that. at 335, uri geller will to 335, uri geller will be live to discuss from israel. discuss the latest from israel. and to shine a light and joining me to shine a light in the political hot seat today is davis mp. he's my is phillip davis mp. he's my political at that is phillip davis mp. he's my pcon cal at that is phillip davis mp. he's my pcon the at that is phillip davis mp. he's my pcon the way at that is phillip davis mp. he's my pcon the way in at that is phillip davis mp. he's my pcon the way in this that is phillip davis mp. he's my pcon the way in this hour. that is phillip davis mp. he's my pcon the way in this hour. tell is on the way in this hour. tell me what you think. as ever on everything we're discussing. email me @gbnews.

everything we're discussing. email me @gbnews . but it's now tweet me @gbnews. but it's now time for mock the week. and what a busy one it's been. royal mail accused border force of failing to prevent counterfeit stamps flooding into britain from china, resulting in customers being hit with a £5 penalty. i can't remember the last time i used a stamp . in the meantime, used a stamp. in the meantime, alan bates wants to see post office bosses jailed and is fundraising to bring about private prosecutions. if subpostmasters are failed by the inquiry into the horizon scandal, which saw them wrongly accused of stealing money. a horrendous state of affairs which led some who some went and committed suicide as a result, which is very sad. this week also saw welsh labour confusing class system with racism by claiming a four hour or four day working week is racist. how ridiculous. so i wrote a piece about it in the daily mail. turns out that many of the jobs, which cannot be done from home or reduced to four days a week,

are more likely. jobs done by ethnic minorities. but that's more with class more to do with social class than race. hardly racist, which is a form hate. more like is a form of hate. more like some liberal elites trying to hide their privilege by using race as an excuse. race as an excuse. >> race as an excuse. >> the greatest curse for people of colour are white liberals, because white liberals are there to treat black people as victims. yeah, yeah . and they victims. yeah, yeah. and they make a fortune out of this. you know, they're all saying, well, the problem is this. and our job the problem is this. and ourjob is to hold hands and, and is to hold their hands and, and help them through. and i really have an aversion do that. and have an aversion to do that. and i to remind people of i like to remind people of colour. we are courageous people that came to country , and that came to this country, and therefore we don't need to feel that we're pioneers . exactly, that we're pioneers. exactly, exactly . exactly. >> but listen, easy fix. make all jobs four days a week. simple doctor hilary cass doubled down in her castle review , which was published this review, which was published this week. she renewed her concerns that private gender clinics were exploiting a loophole, which meant despite an nhs ban on meant that despite an nhs ban on prescribing hormones puberty

prescribing hormones and puberty blockers under 18, private blockers to under 18, private gender clinics continue to do so . the report also exposed gender clinics for refusing to confirm how many young people who started their treatments had changed their minds, so the health secretary stepped in and demanded that the nhs reveal the fate of some 9000 children treated at the tavistock clinic. it interesting to see it will be interesting to see the results. why would you suppress that information unless you've got something to hide? jk rowling also refused to forgive the treacherous and very average actor. she gave a platform to in her harry potter films after they turned their backs on her over correct stance that over her correct stance that trans women are women and trans women are not women and her wish to protect female only spaces list was daniel spaces on that list was daniel radcliffe and emma watson. jk said if you if you don't said even if you if you don't feel ashamed for cheerleading for what now looks like severe medical malpractice, where's your sense of self—preservation? the bandwagon you hopped on so , the bandwagon you hopped on so, so gladly is hurtling towards a cliff. the consequences of this scandal will play out for decades , the greater manchester

decades, the greater manchester police have decided to investigate angela rayner, who says that she will step down if she if she. it is found that she has committed a criminal offence. well, we saw what happened and the happened when keir and the durham dealt with durham police dealt with beergate. so i wait with bated breath to hear the findings . breath to hear the findings. watch this space. and of course, lots things going on. the lots of things going on. the grand national kicks off today, which seen two horse which has already seen two horse horses die and a flesh rotting zombie drug now flooding the zombie drug is now flooding the streets in the uk. it's a bit of mucky all week. so joining me to get down and dirty is presenter darren grimes has been mucky isn't it. >> it's been grimy. >> it's been grimy. >> oh really grimy. grimy i was gonna do it but i let you down. why not? so what do you make of all of this then? we've got a lot going on. >> we've got so much going on, you know, on that first story at the top of hour there, when the top of the hour there, when you were talking about australia, worry you were talking about austrithat worry you were talking about austrithat reason worry not nana that the reason they're not releasing the identity of this

man is because they don't want to be accused of racism. >> that's what i'm >> that's that's what i'm concerned about. but that leads neatly into your for the neatly into your piece for the mail yeah. which was mail this week. yeah. which was very the way . thank very good, by the way. thank you, darren. but, you were arguing that to arguing basically that to basically try and pigeonhole people by the colour of their skin and not base it around class because there will be black and white people who you could put this metric on to and argue that actually, you know, a four day working week would be would them harder would hit them harder because they're doing which can't they're doing jobs which can't be taken down to four days a week, or working from home or whatever else it might be. so there so many ways which there are so many ways in which actually you absolutely bang actually you are absolutely bang on. is the biggest on. that class is the biggest predictor disadvantage in predictor of disadvantage in this country. well, you've seen the places. the film trading places. >> eddie murphy and what's the film trading places. >> face? eddie murphy and what's the film trading places. >> face? and e murphy and what's the film trading places. >> face? and they rphy and what's the film trading places. >> face? and they swapand what's the film trading places. >> face? and they swap places. t's his face? and they swap places. they same they had exactly the same circumstance and they up circumstance and they ended up in position in the same position irrespective colour. in the same position irrespec'i/e colour. in the same position irrespec'i think:olour. in the same position irrespec'i think britain i'm sure >> and i think britain i'm sure you'd agree with this. i think britain a country if britain is a country where if you actually work hard, you can get life. and get somewhere in life. and i don't it's harder for don't think it's harder for people working

people who are born working class. but i don't think it's harder people who are born harder for people who are born with a particular skin colour. i just think that comes into just don't think that comes into it . it. >> it. don't think it does >> no, i don't think it does unless you want along. unless you want to go along. i love what the black farmer said. he good. he was he was very good. he was brilliant. good that, you know, he was very good. he was brisiant. good that, you know, he was very good. he was bris true. good that, you know, he was very good. he was bris true. i)od that, you know, he was very good. he was bris true. i do that, you know, he was very good. he was bris true. i do sayt, you know, he was very good. he was bris true. i do say to (ou know, he was very good. he was bris true. i do say to au know, he was very good. he was bris true. i do say to a lol'iow, he was very good. he was bris true. i do say to a lot ofv, it is true. i do say to a lot of black people, listen, why are you this claptrap that you believing this claptrap that you're disadvantaged and there's literally i can't you're disadvantaged and there's litethat i can't you're disadvantaged and there's litethat can't i can't you're disadvantaged and there's litethat can't do. i can't you're disadvantaged and there's litethat can't do. it'sin't you're disadvantaged and there's litethat can't do. it's more do that you can't do. it's more likely things won't be likely things that you won't be allowed you're white. allowed in because you're white. it's much easier to performance. allowed in because you're white. it's exactly. asier to performance. allowed in because you're white. it's exactly. yeah.o performance. allowed in because you're white. it's exactly. yeah.o psoho,1ance. allowed in because you're white. it's exactly. yeah.o psoho, it's:e. >> exactly. yeah. in soho, it's much easier, though, it, much easier, though, isn't it, to say, well, to turn around and say, well, i'm victim can't possibly to turn around and say, well, i'nx, victim can't possibly to turn around and say, well, i'nx, y, ctim can't possibly to turn around and say, well, i'nx, y, and can't possibly to turn around and say, well, i'nx, y, and z can't possibly to turn around and say, well, i'nx, y, and z because>ssibly to turn around and say, well, i'nx, y, and z because ofibly to turn around and say, well, i'nx, y, and z because of my do x, y, and z because of my skin colour or because of my immutable characteristics. that's laziness. that's a cop out. so i'm afraid these people are perpetuating victimhood. and that's what i reject in the strongest possible terms. yeah, yeah. >> same. now what do you make of the cass review now really sort of doubling down on its findings because really doctor hilary cass had to. >> yeah, absolutely . and i mean, >> yeah, absolutely. and i mean, i actually found some of the language in the cass report to be too sympathetic the be almost too sympathetic to the

other . i think actually, other side. i think actually, there were she was trying to be as balanced as she possibly could. i understand that. but could. so i understand that. but despite the report, despite that, the report, i think was utterly damning for those who have pushed on to children a form of experimental medicalisation in which actually, in the name of gender affirmation, we've seen children be moved on to these generally irreversible treatments that are going to impact them for the rest of their lives. so jk rowling, absolutely right to say this is going to go on for decades, where i think there's going to be like we had with the blood scandal in the nhs , i blood scandal in the nhs, i think there's going to be repercussions are felt repercussions that are felt through for years through the nhs for years to come which doctors, come in which doctors, health care professionals , as i say, care professionals, as i say, healthcare in inverted commas because i think it's ideology actually nana are going to be held account over the years held to account over the years to come for what they've done to young kids . young kids. >> well, it'll be interesting to find what the results are >> well, it'll be interesting to finrthose what the results are >> well, it'll be interesting to finrthose who the results are >> well, it'll be interesting to finrthose who wentzsults are >> well, it'll be interesting to finrthose who went through; >> well, it'll be interesting to finrthose who went through the for those who went through the process and then turned away, and understand they and i don't understand why they didn't give didn't want to give that information. they information. yeah, so they

withheld information. now withheld the information. so now we'll find out we'll hopefully get to find out absolutely, going absolutely, exactly what's going on there. and very briefly and finally, what was the last topic we discussed . finally, what was the last topic we so cussed . finally, what was the last topic we so cusslast topic we were >> so our last topic we were discussing you were discussing as you were listening. listening listening. yes, i was listening i listening, it your i was listening, it was your column it we, we did column and it was, we, we did that. and then it was, oh, yes. >> the final thing, yes. the >> the final thing, oh yes. the flesh oh, zombies. >> the final thing, oh yes. the flesright oh, zombies. >> the final thing, oh yes. the flesright. oh, zombies. >> the final thing, oh yes. the flesright . yeah. zombies. >> the final thing, oh yes. the flesright . yeah. izombies. >> the final thing, oh yes. the flesright . yeah. i dorbies. >> the final thing, oh yes. the flesright . yeah. i do worry, >> right. yeah. i do worry, actually, that we'll end up like america with the fentanyl crisis, because i think actually we're moving in a direction which is almost too liberal and too accepting of drugs. i think all of these people out all of these people coming out and well, the best thing and saying, well, the best thing we to legalise them we need to do is legalise them so they're safer and all the rest no way. jose. rest of it. no way. jose. yeah i think medicalizing think even medicalizing marijuana, i think that's a gateway. exactly. so do i. >> it's the opening gateway. and also a lot of it's very strong and of course psychosis. darren grimes, you on? grimes, when are you on? >> later on. 6 pm. nana 6 pm. we've webb an we've got emma webb in who's an absolute going to absolute peach. so it's going to be show . be a good show. >> lovely darren grimes, lovely to to you. stay after to talk to you. stay tuned after my for saturday five my show for the saturday five darren will be that.

darren grimes will be on that. right. with i'm nana right. you're with me. i'm nana akua. gb news on akua. this is gb news on tv, onune akua. this is gb news on tv, online on digital radio. online and on digital radio. coming will be live coming up, we will be live to discuss latest in israel. discuss the latest in israel. but next my hot topic will be having roundtable discussion. having a roundtable discussion. the ongoing trans debate. this is .

gb news. good afternoon. if you're just tuned in, it's fast approaching 25 minutes after 3:00. this is gb news. we are the people's channel. i'm nana akua, and it's time now for my roundtable discussion. i you're discussion. i know you're thinking there aren't any round tables in the studio. no, i know, but just, you know, suspend the air of disbelief and imagine that rectangular imagine that this rectangular bench a round table. bench is actually a round table. and this week's hot topic. well, it's week regarding it's been quite a week regarding the debate surrounding the ongoing debate surrounding trans report as trans issues. the cast report as as accused the nhs of failing children struggling with their gender identity. jk rowling has

stirred controversy by challenging new hate speech laws and reigning disputes with harry potter stars over transgender rights . so potter stars over transgender rights. so joining potter stars over transgender rights . so joining me potter stars over transgender rights. so joining me now potter stars over transgender rights . so joining me now is rights. so joining me now is television personality jessica alves, jessica alves also transgender teacher and journalist debbie hayton, and gp and medical writer doctor renee hoenderkamp, right . so and medical writer doctor renee hoenderkamp, right. so i and medical writer doctor renee hoenderkamp, right . so i thought hoenderkamp, right. so i thought i'd start with the cast report. i'm going to start with you, debbie hassan. your thoughts? the cast report, which came out and know, and said, actually, you know, people exploiting people are exploiting the loophole that exists that enables private clinics to continue prescribe hormones continue to prescribe hormones and so on and so forth. >> well, i welcome cast report. >> it's been a long time coming. >> it's been a long time coming. >> have an independent >> we now have an independent clinician , expert her clinician, an expert in her field, actually saying what people known all that people have known all along that this an uncontrolled this has been an uncontrolled and experiment on and dangerous experiment on children. and burden of children. and the burden of proof move from people proof has to move from people having to prove that it's dangerous to others, having to prove that it's safe, it isn't safe, and things need to change. >> do you that >> now. do you think that children should allowed to children should be allowed to

transition through some transition or go through some level of social transitioning before say at school before they're 18? say at school or whatever? >> well, i think it's what you mean social transition . mean by social transition. >> people should >> it should people should people constrained to a people be constrained to a sexist gender norms? >> i don't think that. but at the same point, we shouldn't be pretending children that they pretending to children that they are the other sex, are really the other sex, because that's what's been going on. been told that on. children have been told that they're the opposite sex they're really the opposite sex and they're not. >> jessica alves, what is your thoughts? >> the acas report >> i agree that the acas report is very accurate. >> the nhs has been failing treating transgender people for a time. america, brazil, a long time. america, brazil, germany. they are well ahead of us. i'm a strong believer that hormone therapy is very effective. then it's necessary to anyone who is transitioning either from male to female and vice versa, this system failed at providing psychological and assessment to those kids prior giving their hormonal treatment ,

giving their hormonal treatment, i'm 40 years old. i started my transition six years ago in secret, taking hormones. but i wish that i started earlier because i don't have any shadow of doubt. >> that in my mind, in my soul, in my body, i have always been a woman doctor. >> renee, they're saying that a lot of the treatments are in. the hormone therapies are experimental. it's actually there's no real proof that they do what they do. they do affect your hormones, but there's no real proof that they're safe. >> no, there's absolutely no real proof that they're safe. and actually, is, is and actually, what there is, is proof actually they're proof that actually they're damaging that if we damaging. so we know that if we leave child to go through leave a child to go through puberty, they are puberty, even when they are questioning gender, to questioning their gender, up to 93% actually settle 93% of them will actually settle with own many them with their own sex. many of them will be and they will get will be gay and they will get through okay. then we through it. okay. and then we have proportion left have a small proportion left to deal adults. what do deal with as adults. what we do know put them on know is when we put them on puberty blockers, we take away that opportunity through that opportunity to work through whatever it is that's going on. because that child because the moment that a child goes to puberty blockers, not goes on to puberty blockers, not only damaging their goes on to puberty blockers, not only their damaging their

goes on to puberty blockers, not only their heart,aging their goes on to puberty blockers, not only their heart, their their bones, their heart, their brain, they stopping that they are also stopping that potential treatment of its own. and 95% of those kids on puberty blockers will go on to cross—sex hormones. so we're putting them on a train before they've had a chance to actually work through the angst of puberty. puberty is an anxious time, so i know that jessica says that she just knows it's good for people. the evidence doesn't say that. the evidence doesn't say that. the evidence says that it's damaging , and that's why cas has put the brakes and i hope will brakes on. and what i hope will happen that doctors will now happen is that doctors will now be fearful for coming out be less fearful for coming out and saying what's in their mind. doctors have been watching this going and are horrified. for going on and are horrified. for the first time ever in a medical treatment, we have actually put aside evidence and just aside the evidence and just treated people on feelings, and we've been harming them . now we we've been harming them. now we can say, well, no, hang on, i have some evidence. >> well, i want jessica to respond because you referred to something said. something that jessica said. yeah i think the medical yeah i think that the medical system have just been system here have just been taking, the words of the kids

turning up to the office and just telling, hey, i'm actually a boy or a girl, and i'm happy with the gender assigned at birth, doctor, do correct me if i'm wrong, but i've been taking hormones now for six years, and i am fully transitioned. if i don't take my hormones, i will get sick. >> so the hormones helps give gives me a better lifestyle , gives me a better lifestyle, also makes me healthier. >> but then every six months i also need to have a blood test of course. so i have been having a rigorous assessment . not only a rigorous assessment. not only a rigorous assessment. not only a psychological but also having blood tests . seeing my gp blood tests. seeing my gp regularly to see how is my liver , how is the rest of the function of my body. >> i get that and i accept and you know, i have no issue with that. you're an adult. you were 34 we're talking about when you started, but we were talking about the issue. we don't about the other issue. we don't know, you don't know, jessica. and you don't know, jessica. and you don't know does know this either, nor does any doctor hormones you're doctor is those hormones you're taking to work on taking are designed to work on female cells in a body. you

don't have of those . you don't have any of those. you have male cells. >> it's something that no, no >> so it's something that no, no , i change everything else but the chromosomes. >> point is we don't >> but the point is, is we don't know flooding those cells know what flooding those cells with for many, many with oestrogen for many, many years is going to do later down the line in terms of cancer and, and other illnesses and there is no way of knowing that until we're far down the line. >> it's interesting because people like myself, transgender people like myself, transgender people have existed for 200 years, and the people back in the people back in the 50s and 40s, they would be taking a hormones from the counter or stealing from their mums and sisters and take it without any, any doctor prescription . any doctor prescription. >> well, i've got to. debbie, you're sort of pulling a face with that. >> yeah. >> yeah. >> the hormone therapy, it's experimental. >> it's uncontrolled . they >> it's uncontrolled. they really do not know what they're doing. jessica, i'm warning you about that, may tell you about that, they may tell you these there's nobody these things, but there's nobody really knows. and we're all on a

we're all on a uneasy level between trying to take enough hormone to stop our bones decaying, which is what would happen, and not too much because there's cancer risk. there's risk with blood clotting. there's all sorts of risks that they're not explained to you. >> are you are you taking hormones? >> yes, i am well, i well i guess it's a quite a personal question, but are you a fully transitioned person. yes. >> well, therefore we must take the female hormones. >> so otherwise we don't live with. >> i pretty much. >> i pretty much. >> well, no, but you could take male hormones . male hormones. >> well, i'm a woman. >> well, i'm a woman. >> i'm going to take. >> i'm going to take. >> my point is, i know, but the point is, the reason you have to take hormones obviously take hormones is obviously because you've had the sexual surgery. don't produce surgery. so you don't produce your testosterone anymore. your own testosterone anymore. so argument that you so there is an argument that you could natural hormone could take the natural hormone for body is for your body, that your body is used that we should used to using, that we should stick the conversation that stick to the conversation that we're talking about. >> we're all adults >> kids. we're all adults here. so i'm years i know so i'm 40 years old, i know exactly i'm doing, and i'm exactly what i'm doing, and i'm very, exactly what i'm doing, and i'm verso going back to kids being

>> so going back to kids being treated under the nhs with medication , without having medication, without having a psychological appropriate assessment, that's absolutely wrong. >> i totally agree with that. >> i totally agree with that. >> before the age of 18, because administrating, would you have them transitioning before the age of 18? >> that's because this is part of review as well. it wasn't of the review as well. it wasn't just hormones. would you just the hormones. would you allow we would, with the support of family , i suppose would. of my family, i suppose i would. >> a doctor telling me, >> but then a doctor telling me, jessica , you should know that jessica, you should know that you may have some health issues later down the line. and then when you're ready to have your gender reassignment surgery, your won't be fully your genitals won't be fully developed to have the penile inversion . inversion. >> and that is what this kid should be told. >> yeah, but but you know what? they're not listening. >> enough. >> they're not thick enough. >> they're not thick enough. >> to >> they won't listen to understand. been through understand. i've been through this somebody through this with somebody going through it they won't it as a teenager, and they won't listen. and if you listen to some of the detransitioners, they say i would they will say to you, i would not have to anything not have listened to anything you i was the you said because i was the truest trans person. ritchie

said to me other week said this to me the other week that existed , and six years that existed, and six years later dramatically regretted later he dramatically regretted that children too young. that children are too young. under 18, i would say under 25. after that, no problem at all. yeah, do what you want and live how you want to live. >> well, listen. live how you want to live. i wish we could just go on about this. this. this is not long enough for my round discussion. we're round table discussion. we're going to find more going to try and find some more time another day. but time for it in another day. but if just join me. welcome on if you just join me. welcome on board. 33 minutes 3:00. board. 33 minutes after 3:00. this news coming up. we'll this is gb news coming up. we'll have update aintree. have a live update from aintree. of the grand national is of course, the grand national is happening first, happening at four. but first, your news with your latest news headlines with aaron armstrong. >> it's 333. i'm aaron armstrong in the gb newsroom . in the gb newsroom. >> the king says he's shocked and horrified by a mass knife attack in a shopping centre near bondi beach in sydney, which killed six people. a 40 year old male suspect who was known to police has been apprehended. however, the incident is not believed to be related to terrorism . the attack ended when terrorism. the attack ended when a lone female officer confronted

the attacker and shot the alleged attacker and shot him dead. the australian prime minister praised bravery and minister praised her bravery and all the emergency responders who attended scene . in other attended the scene. in other news, commandos from iran have landed on a container ship in a helicopter and have seized the vessel off the coast of the united arab emirates. the vessel involved is believed to have links to israel and comes amid rising tensions in the regions and amid threats from iran. the islamic republic has called israel's presence in the uae a threat and warned it would close the region's shipping lane if provoked , a new poll has found. provoked, a new poll has found. president biden has nearly erased donald trump's advantage. the poll by the new york times and siena college, found 45% say they'd vote for the president, compared to mr trump's 46. it means they're now virtually tied with joe biden's standing amongst democratic voters improving. however, despite a strong economy , almost 80% rated strong economy, almost 80% rated economic conditions as just fair

or poor and one of horse racing's biggest events of the yeah racing's biggest events of the year. the grand national will get underway shortly in about 25 minutes. new safety measures will be in place, meaning six fewer horses are taking part. this after four died last year. however, campaigners for changes to this afternoon's event are nothing more than a pr stunt. a pr stunt after two more horses died yesterday on the track, though it will be as competitive as ever for the million pound prize . you can sign up to the gb prize. you can sign up to the gb news alerts for the latest. scan the qr code on your screen, or go to gb news. com slash alerts. now it's back to . nana. now it's back to. nana. >> thank you aaron. still to come philip davies mp will be in the political hot seat to shine a light on the latest from westminster in my political spotlight. but next mystifier uri will join me to uri geller will join me to discuss the

welcome back. 38 minutes after 3:00. this is gb views news. we're live on tv, online and on digital radio. where? britain's news channel. i'm nana akua now. israel is currently anticipating potential retaliation from iran or one of its allies following the killing of senior iranian officer in damascus. several countries, including india, france and russia , have france and russia, have cautioned against travel to the region, while the israeli army remains vigilant and prepared for various scenarios , the for various scenarios, the government has not commented on the reports of a partial evacuation of diplomatic missions or an increased security measures on the white house has acknowledged the credible threat of an imminent attack on israel by iran. so let's go live to tel aviv and speak to uri geller, who's a mystifier and performer, for the latest on the ground in israel. uri, thank you for joining me

latest on the ground in israel. uri, thank you forjoining me. uri, thank you for joining me. thank you. >> look, nana, things have got incredibly dangerous here in the last few days. you and i normally talk about gaza, but suddenly there is a much bigger threat. iran says it is going to attack israel. it has accused israel, as you said, of killing several military chiefs in syria earlier this month. and it says it is going to take revenge. >> now, these were no innocent victims. >> the commander who was killed was behind countless attacks on israel, taking him out. if it was israel and israel has not admitted it, it was self—defence . but now israel is bracing for an iranian response. there are reports and i have sources nana that iran is planning to fire waves of missiles and attack drones at israel. now, if this happens , it risks sparking the happens, it risks sparking the biggest war. the middle east has ever seen. a direct iranian

attack on israel has never happened before. and i tell you, nana, there will be immediate and massive israeli retaliation. iran will not know what has hit it . nana look, if iran attacks, it. nana look, if iran attacks, israel will not sit back. israel has the most powerful army in the whole of the middle east. let me show you something. this is unbelievable. mind blowing. israel will carry out a blistering attack on iran. it will devastate its military sites, and it will kill its military leaders . we know who military leaders. we know who these people are and we know where these people are now. iran hides its most important sites underground, but israel has thousands of bunker busting bombs. we will take out these hidden sites, including iran's secret nuclear sites. yes, we know where every single piece of equipment is. every reactor , equipment is. every reactor, every centrifuge, every barrel of uranium. now this is mind

blowing. and there is another thing to look at. this israel is believed to possess a weapon called an emp , an called an emp, an electromagnetic pulse. this is a weapon which does not kill, does not kill people. but when it is detonated above ground, it sends out massive bursts of energy. everything stops working . no everything stops working. no electricity, no power, no light, no heat, no phones, no computers , no radios, no tvs, nothing , no , no radios, no tvs, nothing, no nothing. now iran will be paralysed. it will be sent back to the stone age . it will have to the stone age. it will have to the stone age. it will have to rebuild from scratch. now, finally , nana iran is the head finally, nana iran is the head of the snake. iran controls hamas, iran controls hezbollah. iran controls the houthis. and it is openly committed to israel's destruction. israel

destruction. they want to kill all of us. iran don't mess with israel or you will pay a very, very heavy price. that's all i have to say. and thanks for having me on again. >> oh, it's really good to talk to you. i'm praying that a lot of the things that you said aren't, aren't, aren't true or aren't, aren't, aren't true or aren't going to happen. i'm praying, you we watch praying, but, you know, we watch this and we see more and this war and we see more and more devastation and it's just terrifying. i wish you safety and we hope to speak to you again very shortly . thank you so again very shortly. thank you so much. that's uri with his much. that's uri geller with his thoughts views on what's thoughts and his views on what's happening on the ground and going israel . well, next going on in israel. well, next up, philip davies mp will be in the political hot seat to shine a light on the latest from westminster. in my

good afternoon. if you've just tuned in. where have you been? it's all right. you've just missed 46 minutes. you've still

got at least two hours left, so it's all good. i'm nana akua. this is gb news. we're live on tv, online and on digital radio. and it's time for this week's political spotlight. and joining me to shine light is me to shine a light is conservative mp shipley, conservative mp for shipley, philip davies . now this week philip davies. now this week many things happened. greater manchester an manchester police reopened an investigation angela investigation into angela rayner's council house sale. this comes as there are reports that at least three cabinet ministers are contemplating voting against rishi sunak's flagship smoking meanwhile flagship smoking ban. meanwhile the prime minister has come under fire for ruining a train, a trend. oh dear. haha so joining me now, conservative mp for shipley, philip davies , for shipley, philip davies, philip davies and you're sir, aren't you? yet you've been knighted haven't you, sir philip yet. yeah. well thank you. >> now, i don't think we need to bother with all those formalities. >> no, it is each other as well as we do. >> well, philip, thank you very much for joining >> well, philip, thank you very much forjoining me. now, let's get stuck in and let's start with rayner. she's with angela rayner. she's currently investigation, with angela rayner. she's currenjust investigation, with angela rayner. she's currenjust inv obviously so we just need to obviously stick but it's stick to the facts. but it's

interesting because she did put a lot of pressure on those who supposedly under supposedly were under investigation to resign. i mean, she plenty that to boris. she did plenty of that to boris. what your thoughts all of what are your thoughts on all of that ? that? >> yeah, she's been hoisted by her petard. her own petard. >> really, hasn't she ? because, >> really, hasn't she? because, i she's the one who's i mean, she's the one who's called for conservative mps to pubush called for conservative mps to publish tax publish all of their tax details, when suited her and details, when it suited her and now she's not, she's not publishing her tax details when it doesn't suit her, as you rightly said. she said that bofis rightly said. she said that boris should resign because he was investigation the was under investigation from the police she's under police while she's under investigation the police. police while she's under inviftigation the police. police while she's under invif shetion the police. police while she's under invif she feels the police. police while she's under invif she feels so the police. police while she's under invif she feels so stronglyice. so if she feels so strongly about it, why doesn't she resign? it's old sort of, resign? it's the old sort of, socialist problem of hypocrisy. really? now that's the problem that angela rayner is facing. and, look, i don't know the rights wrongs of what she's rights and wrongs of what she's done, but, you know, the golden rule of politics is usually that it's not it's not the crime it's not the it's not the crime that catches you it's the that catches you out. it's the it's the up, well, she has it's the cover up, well, she has said she's done nothing said that she's done nothing wrong, you and she wrong, and, you know, and she has said that she will resign if any criminality is found . but

any criminality is found. but she's confident. interesting that keir starmer, who it feels to me like he's doing a jeremy corbyn when he was very good friends with jeremy corbyn at one point and then suddenly he wasn't jeremy wasn't friends with jeremy corbyn. like the corbyn. it feels like the language towards language of support towards andrew slightly andrew is slightly, slightly sort . sort of changing. >> well, keir starmer's position is ludicrous, to be perfectly honest. i mean , he said the honest. i mean, he said the other day in an interview that he hadn't the tax advice he hadn't seen the tax advice that been given to angela that had been given to angela rayner , and it wouldn't be rayner, and it wouldn't be appropriate to see the appropriate for him to see the tax that had been given tax advice that had been given to well, would it not to him. well, why would it not be appropriate? mean , the only be appropriate? i mean, the only conclusion is that conclusion you can draw is that once it, he might once he's looked at it, he might think that it's it doesn't add up to much. so he seems to be trying to protect himself from finding what reality of finding out what the reality of the which, the situation is, which, whatever you might think, it's not would describe as leadership. >> no. wouldn't be >> no, no. wouldn't it be interesting it feels interesting because it feels like cert. they're like it's a dead cert. they're going be in power, mean, so going to be in power, i mean, so we'll see. what about the smoking ban? is rishi right to focus on, smoking as a serious issue ? a lot of people would

issue? a lot of people would think it's a bit of a side issue i >> -- >> no, no, lam emu >> no, no, this is i mean, i'm completely opposed to what the government's proposing here. it's i mean, i hate the nanny state. nana. and this is the nanny state running riot to be perfectly honest. look, this isn't about stopping children from is about from smoking. this is about stopping adults from smoking. and in my opinion, adults should be free to make up their own minds, and make their own decision. don't the decision. they don't need the state for them. so, state to make it for them. so, i'm completely opposed to what the government's here. the government's doing here. it's it's free vote on it's a it's a free vote on tuesday, i mean, as far as i'm concerned, every vote is a free vote, be perfectly honest. vote, to be perfectly honest. but, it's officially vote but, it's officially a free vote on tuesday . unfortunately, on tuesday. unfortunately, i won't there because won't be there because i'll be in constituency. i've an in my constituency. i've got an engagement in my constituency, so have the pleasure of so i won't have the pleasure of voting second voting against it at the second reading, i very much reading, but i will very much look to voting against look forward to voting against it the third reading when it it at the third reading when it comes parliament, comes back, to parliament, because , i mean, is the because, i mean, this is the type thing i, i absolutely type of thing i, i absolutely hate nanny state approach hate this nanny state approach to although might hate this nanny state approach to that although might hate this nanny state approach to that it'siough might hate this nanny state approach to that it's actually might hate this nanny state approach to that it's actually couldt argue that it's actually could save the government a lot of

money because people dying needlessly from smoking and it costs hundreds of costs the nhs hundreds of thousands, if not millions a yean thousands, if not millions a year, just looking after people who have gone in that direction. yeah, well , look, if you want to yeah, well, look, if you want to have a financial calculation about this, i mean , remember about this, i mean, remember smokers pay a huge amount of tax, billions and billions. i think it's about 8 billion a year in, in, in tax. so, actually that's an awful lot of money to, to try and recover for the exchequer that needs to go into things like the nhs. the exchequer that needs to go into things like the nhs . and, into things like the nhs. and, i mean, i'm not really a particular fan of looking at it in, in terms of pounds and pence, but , in, in terms of pounds and pence, but, presumably if people if people die earlier from smoking, then presumably the government will save a lot on pensions. so i'm not sure the financial up. financial argument stacks up. i don't anyone wants to get don't think anyone wants to get into financial argument. don't think anyone wants to get into is financial argument. don't think anyone wants to get into is about|cial argument. don't think anyone wants to get into is about freedom ment. don't think anyone wants to get into is about freedom andt. don't think anyone wants to get into is about freedom and it's this is about freedom and it's about freedom to choose about people's freedom to choose how to run their own lives and to their own decisions . and to make their own decisions. and in my opinion, as a conservative, people should be free to make their own decisions. and don't think decisions. and i don't think i was to to parliament ban

was sent to to parliament ban everybody else doing all everybody else from doing all the don't happen the things that i don't happen to . to like myself. >> okay, that's fair >> well, okay, that's fair enough. the cast report has enough. and the cast report has been moment. been major talk at the moment. obviously review obviously it's the review came out week. where do you out this week. where do you stand with all that ? stand with all of that? >> well, it's a huge report. it's about 400 pages long, but it's and i haven't read it all myself. but the bits i have read, it's it's, well worth read, it's well it's, well worth a read. and i mean, you a read. nana. and i mean, you have know, thank have to say, you know, thank goodness like jk goodness for people like jk rowling julie bindel and rowling and julie bindel and people like this who up in people like this who stood up in the of all sorts of the face of all sorts of bullying, really social media bullying. mean, some terrible bullying. i mean, some terrible bullying. i mean, some terrible bullying from people on the particularly on the left of politics about, about all the trans now it seems trans stuff. and now it seems that everybody is now trying to turn turtle and try and pretend that all, all all along they were in favour of biological sex being protected. but it didn't seem like that to me at the time. and us who were time. and those of us who were arguing in favour of protecting the integrity of women's sport and protecting the safety of women and the integrity of women's safe spaces and things like that, we were all castigated at the time. so i

remember, think i think, you remember, i think i think, you know, we i suppose we should be pleased this is where we pleased that this is where we appear to have turned the tide on a politically correct hobby horse. and actually, the tide has in our favour. so has turned in our favour. so i suppose we ought to celebrate that. afraid people like that. but i'm afraid people like jk rowling julie bindel jk rowling and julie bindel and the an awful the like went through an awful lot abuse in order to get lot of abuse in order to get here and, but i, you know, i stand four square behind them. they've done people like sharron davies an absolutely fantastic . davies an absolutely fantastic. job yeah. thank god a lot of courage. yeah, absolutely. thank god. and, and really, the report is an endorsement of the position taken. position they've always taken. >> got about >> and finally, i've got about 20s phil. rishi sunak 20s here. phil. rishi sunak trainers. put people off. hahahahahahahai >> now that i'm the last person to talk about fashion, i mean, i'm the most unfashionable person in the world. i always thought rishi looked very, very fashionable . to be honest, i fashionable. to be honest, i thought he i thought he was thought he was. i thought he was a icon. certainly a fashion icon. i'm certainly not fashion icon. the least not a fashion icon. so the least i about this, the better. i say about this, the better. i would say . would say. >> well, listen philip, it's

such talking to you. such a pleasure talking to you. thank much joining thank you so much for joining me, political me, being my political spotlight. much. spotlight. thank you so much. that davis mp for that is philip davis mp for shipley. joining me coming up, my panel cundy my amazing panel lizzie cundy and schneider in and james schneider will be in the getting the the studio next getting the latest from gb news reporter sophie who live sophie reaper, who is live at aintree for the grand national. here's your weather. >> looks like things are heating up. boxt boilers is sponsors of weather on gb news. >> good afternoon. welcome to your latest gb news weather from the met office. so it's been a bit of a drier day for some of us compared to recent weeks, but there is still plenty of showers around with low pressure. situated quite close to the north of the uk, high pressure does sit out towards the south and this cold and the east, but it's this cold front going some front that's going to bring some cloud parts of cloud and rain to parts of england and through the england and wales through the rest evening. it does rest of this evening. it does eventually south eventually clear its way south and overnight into and eastwards overnight and into the start sunday, leaving the start of sunday, leaving quite picture for of quite a dry picture for most of us into early of

us into the early hours of sunday morning. some sunday morning. still some showers across of showers around across parts of scotland and these could turn heavy but under those scotland and these could turn heavyskies, but under those scotland and these could turn heavyskies, temperatureszr those clear skies, temperatures dropping quite nicely around dropping off quite nicely around 7 or 8 degrees across the south and to down around 2 or 3 across parts of scotland, we could even see some frost in places, so that a that does leave a bit of a chillier start sunday across chillier start to sunday across parts of scotland. those showers quite quickly pushing in from parts of scotland. those showers quitwest ckly pushing in from parts of scotland. those showers quitwest though, hing in from parts of scotland. those showers quitwest though, and in from parts of scotland. those showers quitwest though, and spreading the west though, and spreading their through their way eastwards through the day south, a drier day further south, a drier start, we see some start, but we will see some cloud bubbling up . through the cloud bubbling up. through the afternoon. probably the best of the sunshine across southeastern parts of england. will a parts of england. it will be a bit of cooler day than bit of a cooler day than saturday as well. highs in the south around 14 or and in the south around 14 or 15 and in the north around 9 or but quite north around 9 or 10, but quite brisk here through monday. brisk wind here through monday. those much those showers become much more widespread across the uk, moving through quickly a through relatively quickly on a brisk northwesterly wind, so it will little cooler than will feel a little cooler than over weekend. those showers over the weekend. those showers continue the start of the continue into the start of the next week, and those temperatures a little below average, but recover closer to average, but recover closer to average of the average through the end of the week . week. >> that warm feeling inside from

boxt boilers sponsors of weather on . gb news. on. gb news. >> you're watching and listening to gb news live on tv, online and on digital radio. we will bnng and on digital radio. we will bring you the latest with sophie reaper at aintree for the grand national. more of that in the

hello. good afternoon, and welcome to gb news on tv , online welcome to gb news on tv, online and on digital radio. i'm nana akua. over the next few hours, me and my panel will be taking on some of the big topics hitting the headlines. right now, is all about now, this show is all about opinion . it's mine, it's theirs. opinion. it's mine, it's theirs. and yours. we'll and of course it's yours. we'll be debating , and of course it's yours. we'll be debating, discussing and at times we disagree, but no times we will disagree, but no one be cancelled. so one will be cancelled. so joining today is broadcast joining me today is broadcast from columnist lizzie cundy and also former labour party adviser james schneider. coming up, six people have been killed in a

knife attack at a shopping centre in sydney, australia. i'll bring you the latest on that then, for the great british debate this hour, i'm asking has the grand national gone past its sell date for this week's sell by date for this week's difficult conversation, i'll be joined lawyer campaigner joined by lawyer and campaigner stephen about fostering stephen barrett about fostering access to the bar and promoting equality opportunity . you equality of opportunity. you won't want to miss that. then, for the mini debates, be for the mini debates, i'll be joined old pensioner, joined by an old age pensioner, says that's a bit rude . says o.a.p. that's a bit rude. who's been left traumatised after falsely accused after being falsely accused using scotland's hate crime laws. but before we get started , laws. but before we get started, the grand national horse racing biggest race of the year is about to get underway. so joining me now from aintree is gb news north west of england reporter sophie reaper, who's been apparently . been forced outside apparently. sophie you're outside. you look a bit like beatrice . beatrice of a bit like beatrice. beatrice of her eugenie from the royal family with that hat on. you do? so what's going on? why are you outside? >> i will take it. i will absolutely take that. that's the

best compliment i've had all day. so thank you very much. well we're outside aintree because now so chock full because it is now so chock full of people that we just needed the room essentially . now i can the room essentially. now i can see on my feed here that they are just preparing to start this year's grand national. millions of all over the world of people all over the world will be tuning in to see who this year's champion will be. i can hear noise behind me now, which is suggesting that it very well could be underway, thousands and thousands of people packed into aintree today. we know yesterday the total ladies day was close to total at ladies day was close to 45,000, potentially 50,000 people here today. whether they're here to see the horses, here to see the fashion, everyone here today has been having an absolutely phenomenal time. not to mention the fact that the weather thus far has been holding out for us. so earlier on, i had a chat with some of the people here at aintree and this what aintree today and this is what they tell me. what do you they had to tell me. what do you think the grand national means to liverpool the people to liverpool and to the people who come? i think anyone who comes enjoys it,

comes to liverpool enjoys it, has fantastic time and really has a fantastic time and really gets involved in the hospitality that the liverpool people give them yourself. >> yeah, i just love it. it's just it makes the city, the city is fabulous. anyway, we love it. but yeah, it's just everything. we love it. well it's the atmosphere. >> it's absolutely fantastic here. you can't beat the atmosphere for racing. the horses are brilliant, the people are brilliant all times. >> it's a great event for all the family people come from all over the world and the people of liverpool make them welcome and everybody we have everybody enjoys it and we have a day and hopefully win a great day and hopefully win some money. >> a lot of joy, it >> it brings a lot of joy, it bnngs >> it brings a lot of joy, it brings a lot of money to the area and it's a wonderful experience that most of us from liverpool have enjoyed since we were children in. >> well, i can now confirm that the race is underway . i'm seeing the race is underway. i'm seeing pictures here of that so it'll be in about ten minutes. we will know who this year's champion of the grand national is here at aintree. >> well, listen, sophie, thank

you very much. we'll catch up with you and find out what's going on. then hopefully they'll let did you let you back in, did you actually ticket to go in? actually have a ticket to go in? come tell truth. i'm come on, tell the truth. i'm joking. lovely to joking. sophie, it's lovely to talk looking fabulous . talk to you. looking fabulous. and forward for an and we look forward for an update. say sophie reaper update. let's say sophie reaper gb news reporter there. she'll bnng gb news reporter there. she'll bring update on the race bring us an update on the race when she has them. but now it's time for the news headlines with aaron armstrong. >> good afternoon to you. it's 4:03. i'm aaron armstrong . the 4:03. i'm aaron armstrong. the king says he's shocked and horrified by a mass knife attack in a shopping centre near bondi beach in sydney, which killed six people. a 40 year old male suspect was known to police. however, they don't believe his motive was terror related. the attack ended when a lone female officer confronted the man and shot him dead. a nine month old babyisin shot him dead. a nine month old baby is in a critical condition. its mother was amongst those killed. police commissioner karen says a major karen webb says a major investigation is now underway. >> police have secured the crime

scene, which you can imagine is expansive inside a very big, busy commercial shopping centre in sydney, and the crime scene remains ongoing and it will remains ongoing and it will remain ongoing for a number of days. >> commandos from iran have landed on a container ship in a helicopter and have seized the vessel off the coast of the united arab emirates. vessel involved is thought to have links to israel, and it comes amid rising tensions in the region, with iran vowing to retaliate for the attack on its consulate in syria almost two weeks ago. the islamic republic holds israel responsible for that attack, and says israel's presence in the uae is a threat and has indicated it will close the region shipping lane if provoked , a new poll has found. provoked, a new poll has found. president biden has nearly erased donald trump's advantage. the poll by the new york times and siena college, found 45% say they'd vote for the president,

compared to mr trump's 46. it means they're now virtually tied with joe biden's standing amongst voters improving. however, age remains a concern , however, age remains a concern, with 69% saying joe biden's too old if elected , though mr trump, old if elected, though mr trump, who turned 78 in june, would also be the oldest us president . also be the oldest us president. greater manchester police say they found what they believe to be the human remains of a young babyin be the human remains of a young baby in wigan. five people have been arrested on suspicion of concealing a death and unlawful burial. the group, aged between 20 and 70 years old, have been bailed. the chancellor says he's ready to cut taxes and bet on growth after the economy grew by 0.1% in february. the office for national statistics also revised january's figure, pushing it up to 0.3, while writing in the daily express, jeremy hunt says britain's done the hard yards and the economy is bouncing back

. but labour says most people aren't feeling any of the benefits. with low growth and high taxes under the conservative government the chief executive of nhs england has called out what she says is unacceptable abusive behaviour that doctors and nurses are facing at work . amanda pritchard facing at work. amanda pritchard says the health service needs to stamp out abusive behaviour and shouldn't be exempt from its own metoo movement . well, according metoo movement. well, according to major survey, there were to a major survey, there were 80,000 reports of nhs staff in england being sexually harassed while at work last year, reports are more prevalent amongst ambulance staff, nursing staff and healthcare assistants . the and healthcare assistants. the royal navy seized nearly £33 million of drugs from traffickers in the indian ocean, around 3.7 tonnes of substances , around 3.7 tonnes of substances, which included heroin, crystal meth and cannabis, were taken by crews aboard the hms lancaster. the ship was on its first

security patrol when its wildcat helicopter spotted a suspicious boat. helicopter spotted a suspicious boat . labour claims britain's boat. labour claims britain's roads now have 100 times as many potholes as there are craters on the moon . figures estimate that the moon. figures estimate that there were more than a million potholes in the uk last year, which can of course cause serious damage to cars. the party's deputy leader, angela raynen party's deputy leader, angela rayner, says rishi sunak is living on another planet after failing to fix the problem. the government says it's investing billions of pounds into improving our roads. billions of pounds into improving our roads . you can get improving our roads. you can get more on all of our stories by scanning the qr code on your screen right now. for the gb news alerts, or go to gb news. com slash alerts. now it's back to . to. nana. >> thank you aaron. it's just coming up to eight minutes after 4:00. this is gb news. we are

the people's channel. i'm nana akua. we're live on tv, online and on digital radio. coming up, six people have been killed in a knife attack at a shopping centre in australia. armed police shot the attacker, preventing worse carnage. the attack reportedly not terror attack is reportedly not terror related, but i'll bring you more updates as we get them then for the great british debate this houn the great british debate this hour, i'm asking, has the grand national gone past its sell by date? racing is a sport date? horse racing is a sport that captivates the attention of millions them engaged millions and keeps them engaged with unique atmosphere, with its unique atmosphere, thrilling and betting thrilling races and betting opportunities? but is it a little bit? well passe? is it a bit? you know, who wants to watch animals racing? is it a bit? is it has it gone too far? so for the great british debate this asking, has the this hour, i'm asking, has the grand its grand national gone past its sell then 450, it's sell by date? then at 450, it's royal time. lady colin royal roundup time. lady colin campbell live to give us campbell will be live to give us the latest behind the the latest from behind the palace the menu. the palace walls on the menu. the duke duchess sussex duke and duchess of sussex have been spotted and walking been spotted smiling and walking hand of harry's hand in hand ahead of harry's fundraising polo match. and lady

colin campbell will also be talking about her brand new book. harry and meghan persecutors or victims? i can't wait to get stuck in. then at five, it's this week's difficult conversation . lawyer and conversation. lawyer and campaigner stephen barrett will be live in the studio . he does be live in the studio. he does quite a lot actually, including volunteering for the social mobility foundation, striving to break barriers for break down barriers for disadvantaged youth. i'll get all his thoughts at five that's coming up in the next hour. tell me what you think on everything we're gb views we're discussing. email gb views @gbnews. tweet me @gbnews @gbnews. com or tweet me @gbnews . so of course, today's big story. six people have been killed in a knife attack at a shopping centre near bondi beach in sydney, australia. several others including others were injured, including a nine month old baby and that is in critical condition right now. the mother is amongst those who have killed . authorities have been killed. authorities say that many more might have died it been for the died had it not been for the actions a lone police officer actions of a lone police officer who the attacker and

who confronted the attacker and shot him. police commissioner karen knifeman karen webb said the knifeman acted alone and there no acted alone and there is no ongoing risk. >> later this evening we became aware of who we believe the offender is and we believe that he is a 40 year old man. however, we are waiting to formally identify him and we cannot speculate yet on his identification . but let me identification. but let me assure you that we are confident that there is no ongoing risk and we are dealing with one person who is now deceased . person who is now deceased. >> well, the knife man was known to police, but the attack is not believed to be terror related. so joining me now is international security specialist along specialist will geddes, along with broadcaster and with my panel broadcaster and columnist lizzie cundy, and also former labour party adviser james schneider. well, i'm going to with will geddes. to start with you, will geddes. what i mean, look, the australians, they have a system

where their police are armed and this guy would have done a lot more damage had he not been shot dead by a female officer. yes. brave brave seeing brave woman, very brave seeing that. does it make you consider that. does it make you consider that maybe in this country , we that maybe in this country, we need to start thinking about how we army, our own police , well, we army, our own police, well, we army, our own police, well, we already do have a very, very well , again, we already do have a very, very well, again, we've got to look at some recent events which i think would put into question whether the universal arming of police officers is such a great idea, because certainly the specialist officers specialist firearms officers that were involved in the chris kaba quite recently, for kaba case quite recently, for example tony on example, and also tony long on a previous to that, you know , previous case to that, you know, they've both been in a situation where they've gone through being pulled through the mill and questioning and inquiries and everything else for a number of years. >> and it's to a certain extent impacted their personal lives quite horrifically. now now, in terms of us maintaining a standard of many police officers having non—lethal weaponry, like, tasers and like, for example, tasers and certainly cs gas, those are quite often, if deployed

appropriately, if the officers are trained appropriately in how to use them, they can be as effective cases, and effective in many cases, and particularly if it's someone who is only armed with a knife. now, that doesn't mean that someone with knife cause with a knife can't cause devastation a great number devastation and a great number of casualties, as we've seen in sydney this morning. however the fact using non—lethal fact is that using non—lethal weapons allow you to weapons does also allow you to dig deeper should you wish, because one of the problems you have is if you kill a terrorist, which i'm for all in many cases, unfortunately, you don't get to understand their . network who understand their. network who else they're talking to, where they've been other than their digital footprint, which is what the police will be doing right digital footprint, which is what the |in ice will be doing right digital footprint, which is what the |in australia.e doing right now in australia. >> surrenders. what happened >> surrenders. so what happened there? we know there? so what do we know about there? so what do we know about the in australia? there? so what do we know about the well, in australia? there? so what do we know about the well, we australia? there? so what do we know about the well, we don'talia? there? so what do we know about the well, we don't know a great >> well, we don't know a great deal the perpetrator, but deal about the perpetrator, but something is of something which is kind of interesting official interesting by the official police statements is the fact that them. now, that he is known to them. now, they're to confirm his they're not going to confirm his identity yet because identity quite yet because obviously they're sifting through all through certainly, probably all his the his personal possessions, the people living near

people he may be living near with know, nearby with or, you know, nearby and who associates try who he associates with to try and out a little bit more and find out a little bit more about you about what is his story. you know, driven him know, what may have driven him to perpetrating to actually perpetrating this horrific , but at horrific attack today, but at the yes, there were six, the moment, yes, there were six, fatalities . there number fatalities. there are a number of casualties. very, of casualties. and it's very, very tragic . and the fact that very tragic. and the fact that they kind of countered the they have kind of countered the fact that it's a terrorist attack, i think that makes quite attack, i think that makes quite a significant point, because many of us will jump immediately to believing it would be terrorism, lizzie cundy, i know you said your son is out there in sydney, near where the attack i >> -- >> yeah, -_ >> yeah, my, 5mm >> yeah, my, my youngest son is in sydney. >> very near where this terrible tragedy happened. also my best friend is there and actually works at the shopping mall, but she was running late or else she would have been caught up in this. so when i heard of this, you can imagine the worry. and i was so relieved to hear from both of them. son said both of them. but my son said that is in shock , it's that sydney is in shock, it's nothing like this has happened. >> you don't expect it to happen in sydney. >> you don't expect it to happen in sanday.

>> you don't expect it to happen in sand he said it just can't >> and he said it just can't believe it. >> but, the first news when they thought this happened, that it was, the actual was, you know, the actual shopping mall is run by jewish. it's a big jewish community there. and they thought there was some link . what they're was some link. what they're saying as of yet, it's not a terror link, but i have to say we could take a leaf out of their police and the commissioner, karen webb , who commissioner, karen webb, who instilled such confidence and calm when something like this is going on and i think the way that they've handled it has been extraordinary. and someone incredible stories you hear of heroes going out and helping not, you know, just a guy was in the shop and, and saw it happening and went and helped and saved , that poor baby that and saved, that poor baby that has had surgery. >> but some of the real heroism that's gone on is unbelievable. >> i think it's worth mentioning that, you know, there's only been two terrorist attacks in australia in the last four years. so they they really haven't had a great deal of

exposure to terrorism. and one of those two incidents in the last two years, sorry, in the last two years, sorry, in the last years, and last last four years, and the last one two years ago, was far one was two years ago, was a far right but part right extremist. but being part of eyes partners , the of the five eyes partners, the australian secret intelligence service over terrorism service is all over terrorism and counter—terrorism. and certainly they'll be getting their briefings from their their other four eyes partners. >> well, it's not harder to get over to australia, isn't it? and they don't mess around with their border controls either. it's in between . it's a big old ocean in between. james schneider, your thoughts, i lizzie, was saying. i was i like lizzie, was saying. i was quite amazed at reading about the people, the passers by who intervened to try to help others and to apprehend the, the attacker. and it sounds like an extremely terrifying experience for everyone who was there. and, you know, of course , six people you know, of course, six people have died and we don't know exactly about the injuries of , exactly about the injuries of, of the others, but it sounds like this could have been much worse if it weren't for the actions of both the police and of people who were, you know,

doing their whatever morning it is, saturday morning shopping. >> that , we should >> do you think that, we should look to sort of arming our police know we'll said police more? i know we'll said that they are, but that's a specific task force who will come and deal with. >> no, i don't think so. i think it's right that you have specialists trained and, people who are licensed for guns and that they are signed in and signed out, and there's that kind of level of oversight, i think that we're lucky here in the uk that we don't have very many guns in our society,. and i think the fact that we don't also means that the police , also means that the police, don't have to. >> and i find it, it's actually a very positive sign about our country that the police have basically non—lethal force as the, as the first port of call. >> so i would like to see that stay, for, for as long as possible. really. of course. specialist ones, counter—terrorism, etc. they of course need to be armed . but course need to be armed. but youn course need to be armed. but your, you know, your everyday bobby, you don't want that to be

their first port call. their first port of call. >> agree with everything >> well, i agree with everything that because that will said. i mean because taser police trained taser if the police are trained in the right way and we get the best quality police, you then can have you know who's done this and then have them to answer the questions. >> and i think if you can taser and not kill is far better in my side . side. >> if our police force had guns gone well , i >> if our police force had guns gone well, i mean to say it, but, you know, half the things that go on the. and i'm so sad to see our police force in such a terrible state. yeah, but i'd be frightened of a lot of the officers who are in the force were allowed to carry guns . were allowed to carry guns. >> it is a worry. i think we've got to look at how our police are and how capable they are, and right quality to and getting the right quality to be police. >> mean, i we've seen >> i mean, i think we've seen enough examples, on enough examples, sadly, on social media, and do have a social media, and i do have a lot of good friends in the police, strong advocate police, so i'm a strong advocate and of them. but we've and supporter of them. but we've sadly examples of some sadly seen some examples of some very policing, as lizzie sadly seen some examples of some very you policing, as lizzie sadly seen some examples of some very you know,1g, as lizzie sadly seen some examples of some very you know, ands lizzie sadly seen some examples of some very you know, and evenie sadly seen some examples of some very you know, and even the says, you know, and even the deployment or even the

deployment of tasers or even the in appropriate deployment of cs gas, you start putting a loaded gun in someone's possession or their access frightening and having worked around firearms for much of my adult life, i know how volatile they are and how responsible the person who's holding it needs to be. >> yeah, that is that is a good point. the australians are really, you know , handling this really, you know, handling this well. yeah. really well. watching the way their police force operate. and that's not to put down our police officers because there are plenty of incredible police officers as a handful of them , a very large handful of them, a very large handful, by the way. well, maybe 2 are very 2 or 3 handfuls are very bad. i mean, we're actually a bucket load or a bucket load. but, you know, from what we've heard. but no, are also well, there's no, there are also well, there's something really something that's that's really become apparent certainly become very apparent certainly in the last few years, is that the quick the police have to be very quick at releasing information. >> with, with, you know, >> yeah, with, with, you know, twitter, you know, or x as it's now known and other social media, you'll have all the conspiracy theorists , you'll conspiracy theorists, you'll have all the speculators, the armchair critics and, and analysts who will come up with

all sorts of ideas. the problem is that can be massively misleading. also inject misleading. it can also inject fear where there doesn't need to be. it can expand and, and certainly exaggerate on what's actually happened so that the police forces worldwide all know and every police force will be watching the australian police and how they're responding to this, to say what lessons can we learn to make sure we get information out as quickly as we possibly can, even if we're still in a void of not knowing exactly what has happened? yeah, that's true. >> i'm sick and tired of >> i mean, i'm sick and tired of heanng >> i mean, i'm sick and tired of hearing phrase. lessons hearing that phrase. lessons will the other will be learned, but the other one sick and tired will be learned, but the other onis sick and tired will be learned, but the other onis now sick and tired will be learned, but the other onis now hearing ck and tired will be learned, but the other onis now hearing police tired will be learned, but the other onis now hearing police force of is now hearing police force reporting themselves for putting themselves special themselves into special measures. know measures. i mean, i don't know which latest one which one was the latest one that's that we which one was the latest one that' was that we which one was the latest one that' was it that we which one was the latest one that' was it northampton we which one was the latest one that' was it northampton or had. was it northampton or nottinghamshire police doing that. know, messed that. and you know, they messed it they say, well it up. and then they say, well we into special we put ourselves into special measures. know. measures. i mean i don't know. well it's not i don't want to i don't want i shouldn't but don't want i shouldn't laugh but no is if i'm worried about no it is if i'm worried about our police. >> had a very well >> look, i had a very well publicised burglary my home publicised burglary at my home and i just wanted to enquire

about it. >> it took. i mean, two weeks for someone to get back to me. but then when they did, they got the wrong note. >> well, at least you're not in scotland because take scotland because it would take them they're under them years because they're under them years because they're under the of non—crime the pile of a load of non—crime hate yeah, yeah, hate incidents. yeah, yeah, exactly, exactly. >> all the all the lodges against, jk rowling, wasn't it. >> and this poor >> well that's it. and this poor lady, was. she's been lady, more. she was. she's been arrested police , 74 year arrested by the police, 74 year old for a non—crime hate incident. she didn't know it was. i mean, it wasn't even her. by was. i mean, it wasn't even her. by the way, beggars believe she she was. >> it was a false a mistaken identity. >> no, it's just that i think the language or the foul language or whatever was coming from near her house, but it wasn't actually from her house. somebody. >> even better, they overheard . >> even better, they overheard. >> even better, they overheard. >> they apparently overheard it. >> they apparently overheard it. >> i mean, goodness, what they thought of at the game, the celtic rangers game with the language that would have been there me tell you. >> listen, we will talk about that as well. and hopefully if we more, i will and we can get more, i will try and get more towards the end of the show. if you just us.

show. if you just joined us. welcome. it's minutes after welcome. it's 21 minutes after 4:00. gb news on 4:00. this is gb news on tv, onune 4:00. this is gb news on tv, online on digital radio. i'm online and on digital radio. i'm nana up. we'll round nana akua coming up. we'll round up campbell with up with lady colin campbell with the the the latest from behind the palace her palace walls. we'll get her rundown on her brand new book as well. meghan and harry persecutors victims? do persecutors or victims? what do you now i am maximus won you think, now i am maximus won this year's grand national, by the way, that is the result. sorry to get you straight in there, but it has. if you wanted to hide your eyes or hide your ears whatever. but ears or whatever. but unfortunately, yes , i am unfortunately, yes, i am maximus. you bet on maximus. so if you put a bet on there, then for good you. so next though, time for the next though, it's time for the great this hour. next though, it's time for the great asking, this hour. next though, it's time for the great asking, has this hour. next though, it's time for the great asking, has the; hour. next though, it's time for the great asking, has the grand and i'm asking, has the grand national past sell by national gone past its sell by date? i've got a pull up right now asking you that very now on asking you that very question. touch. question. get in touch. go onune question. get in touch. go online gb at gb views .com online gb news at gb views .com or tweet me @gbnews. that's on the way. next .

good afternoon. it's just coming up to 25 minutes after 4:00. this is gb news on tv , online this is gb news on tv, online and on digital radio. i'm nana akua, and it's time for the great british debate this hour. and i'm asking as the grand national gone past its sell by date, the grand national, a celebrated event in horse racing, faces mounting scrutiny overits racing, faces mounting scrutiny over its ethical and practical dimensions and whilst the sport lies in its rich history, captivating atmosphere and this lucrative betting opportunities that are available , there are a that are available, there are a lot of concerns over animal welfare and also the ethical implications of gambling, which cast a shadow over the future of this annual event. now, the stark reality of horse racing and the toll it has on its participants. there's lots of studies that have revealed alarming injury and fatality rates among competing horses, which necessary which has prompted a necessary re—evaluation of the sport's practices. i mean, only yesterday , two horses died yesterday, two horses died dunng yesterday, two horses died during ladies day at the festival as animal charities called for an end to the event.

so what do you think? it's coming to a close this weekend, but what are your what are your thoughts? so for the great british debate this out i'm asking the grand national asking has the grand national gone by date? gone past its sell by date? well, me discuss well, joining me now to discuss benedict spence, political commentator brendan powell, grand national winning jockey of 1988, stancil, horse 1988, and dean stancil, horse racing consultant, animal aid and from animal aid. i'm going to start with you, brendan powell , your grand to start with you, brendan powell, your grand national winning jockey, 1988. what do you think about the grand national? is it is it a bit, you know, do we need to move on from it now, i don't think so, no, i've just watched the race there , i saw two fallers at, the chair , both got up and galloped chair, both got up and galloped off. corach rambler, who won it last year, unseated at the first. so it didn't actually fall at. and i think for the first time ever, i've never seen so many horses there with a chance turning into the straight, it looked a great race. >> it went a sensible pace and a lot of horses finished out the race very well. so. yeah, i just

thought looked a great race thought it looked a great race and, and the best horse in the day it . day won it. >> well, what about the welfare for horses? they. do for the horses? do they. do they. did your horse they. i mean, did your horse appear enjoy what was appear to enjoy what it was doing you know if doing and how would you know if it did? >> well, if he didn't enjoy it, he wouldn't. >> they wouldn't want to do it. i mean, you can't force an animal to do anything, and. yeah, the time before he won the national, fell in the national, he fell in the gold cup last, he popped cup at the third last, he popped around he actually got around aintree. he actually got an injury in the race, which , we an injury in the race, which, we could. yeah. he he, he cracked a small bone in his hock. we could have brought him back again, but because he won the national, the owners decided to retire him, and and had a great and he retired and had a great retirement in the owner's place. >> but, no, look, it's as i said, things have changed over the years. >> fence has got a lot smaller. i mean , watching it today, i mean, watching it today, i mean, most of fences are mean, most of the fences are especially beaches. valentine's the chair , all the what i call the chair, all the what i call dangerous parts of them. taken

out the drops at beaches and the whole lot. and watching all the horses go round there today, they all seem to jump very well. and i think it was the same yesterday in the top, trophy or the, the. yeah, the topham the, the, the. yeah, the topham they , there were so many horses they, there were so many horses got round, there was no fallers. so yeah, we're doing everything we can to keep it as safe as possible. dean stancil, what are your thoughts on this? >> because i, i don't think i hear what brendan is saying, but i don't know if the horse feels it has to do what you want it to do. otherwise. don't they have, like a whip and then they have something here in their mouth and bit all that. and that the bit and all that. surely this isn't this isn't nice for the horses. is exactly nana. >> you've got it spot on. >> you've got it spot on. >> there . you know, we saw >> there. you know, we saw horses being whipped today. >> the bits in the mouths are very severe on some of the horses, and the only way you can control these half ton, 500kg horses is with the bit in the mouth, and they drag them around and pull them around with these, and pull them around with these, and don't actually see, the

and we don't actually see, the damage that actually goes on behind the scenes, you know , we, behind the scenes, you know, we, brendan gave a very sanitised version of the race, a very good commentary on what happened today. >> but what he didn't go into was the fact that horses die every week on british racecourses. >> so we can't just sort of say today's grand national was safe. >> when horses are getting killed nearly every day on racecourses, around 150 jump horses a year get killed on racecourses across britain. >> and i think the grand national epitomises all that is wrong with the with racing , wrong with the with racing, because it's historically been so dangerous and has killed so many horses in the past. >> yeah, i've kind of feel sorry for them in a way, but i hear that if they didn't want to do, they wouldn't do it. but i don't think they've got a choice. they have to do it, don't they? benedict >> i mean, yeah, i think we have to take several things into account. >> not fan of horse racing. >> it's just not never been my sport in particular. >> i don't the appeal of it, >> i don't see the appeal of it, but a lot of people do. i think

we recognise that horses we need to recognise that horses have for have been specifically bred for this over centuries, this purpose over centuries, actually, and so that there is a degree of , you know, the horses degree of, you know, the horses that are the most successful at it being the ones that perhaps it's to say it, but it's wrong to say enjoy it, but are best it and understand are best at it and understand what required of them, and what is required of them, and therefore more of a therefore have a bit more of a natural instinct. >> i'd say is >> but what i'd say is ultimately is different to ultimately this is different to other you other sort of animal based, you know, like, know, blood sports, things like, bullfighting hunting or bullfighting or fox hunting or things like that in that actually, carries of actually, this carries sort of widespread , massive appeal, to widespread, massive appeal, to a lot of wealthy individual, lot of very wealthy individual, individuals across the world. this isn't actually just, you know, sort of a casual pastime, a huge amounts of money are invested in this sport by, you know, sheikhs and american billionaires and everybody who could possibly think about it as a sport that has enjoyed from the americas to the gulf to china, there is a lot of vested interests, therefore , in keeping interests, therefore, in keeping the sport going. >> and i think maybe therefore, if it is going to have to sort of require more safety as i'm involved , you might see a little

involved, you might see a little bit more that, but is it on bit more of that, but is it on the out, if it loses the way out, even if it loses appeal amongst the average member british as member of the british public as an international spectacle? >> one the high >> no, this is one of the high points, think, the points, i think, of the international racing calendar, and much money international racing calendar, and up much money international racing calendar, and up in much money international racing calendar, and up in it much money international racing calendar, and up in it and much money international racing calendar, and up in it and farnuch money international racing calendar, and up in it and far toor money international racing calendar, and up in it and far too muchzy tied up in it and far too much interest up in it for, for interest tied up in it for, for it die death , i think. it to die a death, i think. >> so, even if the average punter doesn't feel as punter doesn't perhaps feel as interested used interested as they, they used to, simply because of interested as they, they used to, scale simply because of interested as they, they used to, scale of mply because of interested as they, they used to, scale of itply because of interested as they, they used to, scale of itply on ause of interested as they, they used to, scale of itply on the; of the scale of it on, on the international stage. yeah, i think is more than think its future is more than secure, all right. listen. well, thank you for that. let's thank you for that. so let's i'll ask each so is i'll ask you, each of you. so is it the grand national it time for the grand national to pack up away? to just pack up and go away? but, benedict spence. >> isn't brendan powell. >> no, it isn't brendan powell. >> no, it isn't brendan powell. >> yes. oh, definitely. definitely not. and dean stancil, what do you think? what's your thoughts. >> yeah, we've certainly got got to get rid of it. i mean i respect both the views of brendan and benedict, the brendan and benedict, but the fact we've seen a decline in fact is we've seen a decline in people going to race courses. we've seen the racing industry having to come out with a new pr campaign this this week called ewr. we would say that's poor

welfare record, but the racing industry might say differently, what we so what we're seeing is the lower end of racing is collapsing because there's not enough money there for the horses. we're seeing horses going for slaughter. horses. we're seeing horses going for slaughter . yeah, sure. going for slaughter. yeah, sure. the top end is buoyant, but the bottom end that really underpins racing is very, very fragile and vulnerable . vulnerable. >> well, that is where it will crumble. >> that's where it will crumble. >> that's where it will crumble. >> will always turning against you think? >> i think lot of. no, ithink >> i think a lot of. no, i think a lot of people love it. i mean i personally i don't, i don't particularly have an opinion either don't like either way, but i don't like seeing being upset. but seeing animals being upset. but if having a good time, if they're having a good time, who benedict who knows? benedict spence, thank for your thank you so much for your thoughts. and thoughts. brendan powell and also thank you. also dean stancil. thank you. this gb what are your this is a gb news. what are your views? 32 minutes after 4:00. i'm nana akua coming up. we'll continue with the great british debate this hour. i'm debate this hour. and i'm asking, grand national asking, has the grand national gone its sell by date? gone past its sell by date? you'll the thoughts of my you'll hear the thoughts of my panel you'll hear the thoughts of my panel. but first, let's get your latest . news.

latest. news. >> hi there. very good afternoon to you. it is 1632. i'm aaron armstrong . the king says he's armstrong. the king says he's shocked and horrified by a mass knife attack in a shopping centre near bondi beach in sydney, which killed six people. if you're watching on tv, you can see the moment the assailant was confronted by a very brave man holding a metal bollard and that 40 year old male suspect was known to police. they don't believe his motive was terror related. a nine month old baby remains in critical condition . remains in critical condition. its mother was amongst those killed. the attack ended when a lone female officer confronted the man and shot him dead . the man and shot him dead. iranian special forces have seized a container ship with 25 crew members off the coast of the united arab emirates. the vessel involved is believed to have links to israel and comes amid rising tensions in the region and threats from iran. the islamic republic has called israel's presence in the uae a threat, and has warned it will

close the region's shipping lane if provoked . a new poll has if provoked. a new poll has found president biden has almost erased donald trump's advantage . erased donald trump's advantage. the poll, by the new york times and siena college , found 45% say and siena college, found 45% say they'd vote for the president, compared to 46% who'd vote for mr trump. it means they're virtually tied now with joe biden's standing amongst voters improving. however, despite a strong economy, almost 80% rated economic conditions as just fair or poor , and officials in turkey or poor, and officials in turkey have ordered the detention of 13 people after yesterday's deadly cable car collision. one person was killed and ten others injured when the cable car collided with a broken pole , collided with a broken pole, ripping the pod open and sending people inside plummeting to the rocks below. 174 passengers have been rescued. it's a massive operation, taking some 23 hours, involving ten helicopters and

more than 600 rescue workers . more than 600 rescue workers. and finally, i am maximus has won the grand national at aintree. the 7 to 1 joint favourite romped home by several lengths to win for jockey paul townsend and trainer willie mullins. the prize more than half £1 million. new safety measures , though, meant six measures, though, meant six fewer horses took part this year due to the four horses fewer horses took part this year due yeare four horses fewer horses took part this year due year. four horses fewer horses took part this year due year. you four horses fewer horses took part this year due year. you can four horses fewer horses took part this year due year. you can sign' horses fewer horses took part this year due year. you can sign up rses fewer horses took part this year due year. you can sign up toes fewer horses took part this year due year. you can sign up to gb last year. you can sign up to gb news alerts for more . scan the news alerts for more. scan the qr code on your screen or go to our website for more details. now it's back to . nana. in 35 now it's back to. nana. in 35 minutes after 4:00, this is gb news on tv, online and on digital radio. >> coming up, my royal roundup. royal biographer lady colin campbell will give us the latest from behind the palace walls, and we'll talk about her brand new book as well. can't wait new book as well. i can't wait to read it. meghan and harry, persecutors or victims ? but persecutors or victims? but next, it's great british next, it's the great british debate hour. and asking debate this hour. and i'm asking has the national past

has the grand national gone past its date? i've got to its sell by date? i've got to pull up right on x asking pull up right now on x asking you that very question. the you that very question. has the grand national gone past its sell by in touch gb sell by date? get in touch gb news at gb views .com or tweet me @gbnews. cast your vote now

welcome back. if you've just tuned in. welcome on board. this is gb news. we are the people's channel. we're live on tv, onune channel. we're live on tv, online and on digital radio. i'm nana akua, and it's time for the great british debate this hour. and i'm asking, has the grand national gone past its sell by date? while the famous racing event of rich history and event boasts of rich history and draws fans with its wonderful atmosphere and all the other stuff that goes on the betting and all the other things, there are concerns over the animal welfare ethics of welfare and the ethics of gambling . recent tragedies gambling. recent tragedies include two horse deaths during

ladies day at the festival, which underscore the urgent need for scrutiny and potential reform in horse racing . in reform in horse racing. in theory, it's a sport which is potentially out of its depth. what do you think? so for the great british debate this hour, i'm asking is the grand national gone its by date? gone past its sell by date? well, what my panel well, let's see what my panel make of that. i'm joined by broadcast lizzie broadcast from columnist lizzie cundy, to cundy, also a former adviser to jeremy . jeremy corbyn. james schneider. well, to start with well, i'm going to start with you, schneider . you, james schneider. >> i know very little about horse racing , i have to admit, horse racing, i have to admit, but liverpool is my favourite city in britain, and if the good people of liverpool like the grand national at aintree, then i think that should carry on. i'm sure there are things about animal welfare that can be improved and there issues improved and there are issues with gambling. my with gambling. although my intuition is that the issues with gambling are much less about these kind of day out events, in a much more to do with the kind of slot machine things which get you, get you locked in. so it seems from what we've seen, as i say, i'm not an

expert. i don't know that much about racing, that people expert. i don't know that much abohaving racing, that people expert. i don't know that much abohaving aracing, that people expert. i don't know that much abohaving a good , that people expert. i don't know that much abohaving a good time: people expert. i don't know that much abohaving a good time at,ople expert. i don't know that much abohaving a good time at, and are having a good time at, and long continue. long may that continue. >> what about poor >> well, what about the poor horses , though? horses, though? >> well, so if there are, >> well, it's so if there are, would you like with a bit in your mouth a whip? your mouth and a whip? >> don't answer that . >> actually, don't answer that. i love the company. >> another show . it's >> this is another show. it's another show, look, i know a lot about, horse racing. >> i'm a i'm a huge fan. my sister used to go out with the jockey john francome, and they look after these horses from morning, noon and night. >> it's their whole life . they >> it's their whole life. they are they're part the are so like they're part of the family , yes. there needs to be family, yes. there needs to be improvement. they need to be better safety issues, improving the designs of the first fence. so it's nearer the starting line. getting softer rubber foam sort of toe boards , toe boards sort of toe boards, toe boards for. so it's softer on their , on for. so it's softer on their, on the horse's feet and they so and also if you have the, pop up irrigation for the water. so, so it's not so dry because that's when they get haaland a little bit softer. >> so. >> so.

>> and look today's race. what a success.i >> and look today's race. what a success. i am maximus one. not good for me because i had £500 on limerick lace, £500 on. yes, i was going to buy you dinner. >> don't ever do that at home. >> don't ever do that at home. >> sorry. yes. >> sorry. yes. >> don't do that. bet on anything. you can't afford to lose it. >> there's apparent injuries. >> there's no apparent injuries. today's two today's race, it went two deaths. sadly . look, deaths. well, but sadly. look, in all sports there are incidents. at formula one. incidents. look at formula one. look at boxing, look at rugby. they just need to mindful and they just need to be mindful and make this safer for the horses and the jockeys. >> but it's so archaic though isn't it. just like, you know, watching animals running. i mean it's like the sort of thing you did school with the snail did at school with the snail race. why we doing this? race. why why are we doing this? haven't we moved on from this? >> well, some people might have done. you might have done. you don't watch it. >> i don't know, i probably put a bet on. >> i'm not saying i wouldn't do it. i'm just thinking that. is it. i'm just thinking that. is it out of date? are we it a bit out of date? are we a bit, you know, why are we doing this? great. >> it's absolutely fun. >> it's absolutely great fun. i mean, first race was in mean, the first race was in 1839. it first got televise in

1960. goes to 140 other 1960. it goes out to 140 other countries and just today, i mean, on bets, it was 650 million. can you believe so there's a lot of interest in this money and 70,000 went to watch live. it's great fun. and if you love the horses, love putting your bet on. it's actually very , very exciting. actually very, very exciting. and they just be more and they just need to be more mindful of the health and safety of the horses. and i've said a few things they can easily do to make that happen. >> imagine how enthusiastic lizzie would be if horse lizzie would be if her horse came the top three, rather came in the top three, rather than rather than a sad, a sad 10th. this is the this is the enthusiasm at ten running around the studio, i really would, but it brings a lot of joy. >> nana. and as i said, there's risks in all sorts of sports. >> i don't know, i don't know. listen, i'm not i don't really have opinion either way. i if have an opinion either way. i if i the horses, i will put i go to the horses, i will put a small bet on. i'm not encouraging people to bet though, and if you though, by the way. and if you ever put bet on, make sure ever do put a bet on, make sure that an amount that you're that it's an amount that you're prepared to lose. this show prepared to lose. but this show is and your is nothing without you and your

views. welcome great views. let's welcome our great british voices, their opportunity on the show opportunity to be on the show and us what they think and tell us what they think about the topics we're discussing. let's go to where should let's we go should we go, let's we go where there in a zoo. there are some animals in a zoo. we to bristol, to leigh we go to bristol, to leigh harris. one of them, harris. he's one of them, jokingly, you know that leigh, are are you well? are you are you well? >> well , thank you. how are you? >> i'm all right. thank you. lee, what do you think? are we. is this a bit old fashioned? it sort of reminds me of the gladiator and all that sort of thing. you know, we're spectators watching a spectacle which is probably quite cruel on some . some levels. >> i hear where you're coming from. i mean , i'm not, like, from. i mean, i'm not, like, massively into the horse racing, but i do like it. but i don't think it's past its sell by date. and i think, you know, we can categorically confirm that by the 80,000 turnout this weekend. and i was genuinely staggered to read that over six, they're expecting 600 million people to tune in this afternoon or tuned this afternoon when or tuned in this afternoon when it is extremely it happened. so it is extremely popular the public here and popular with the public here and around the world is part of our national identity. it's part of our history and culture. it's

the most iconic steeplechase in the most iconic steeplechase in the world. it's for great the economy and a day out the races is utterly brilliant . i've never is utterly brilliant. i've never been to the grand national, but i've been to newmarket races in the past and it was a great excuse to dress up, drink some pimms and a few bets on. pimms and put a few bets on. i genuinely i absolutely loved it, but i am with you on, you know, l, but i am with you on, you know, i, i do hate it that quite often horses do die at this particular event. horses do die at this particular event . you know, as you've event. you know, as you've already said, three horses died at last year's race. four. four died the year before and sadly, two on ladies day this weekend. a total of 65 horses have now died at aintree since the year 2000. i genuinely do find that heartbreaking, but we just need to continue focusing on improving the safety of the horses . so, as lizzie said, i'm horses. so, as lizzie said, i'm really pleased to see they made changes to improve the safety, like reducing the number of horses, running, lowering the jumps, starts and so jumps, standing starts and so on. but you know, i think they do need to do more, but i'm really pleased to hear that all

the horses finished safely today. no one fell. and so these changes clearly having an changes are clearly having an effect. so on balance, i definitely don't want it to be cancelled. i get the complaints from animal rights protests. i kind of see it, but it definitely shouldn't be banned . definitely shouldn't be banned. >> it shouldn't be banned. leigh harris, thank you much. harris, thank you so much. is there bristol ? harris, thank you so much. is there bristol? he's that there in bristol? he's that great voice. you there in bristol? he's that gremuch voice. you there in bristol? he's that gremuch leigh. ice. you there in bristol? he's that gremuch leigh. always you there in bristol? he's that gremuch leigh. always a you there in bristol? he's that gremuch leigh. always a pleasure so much leigh. always a pleasure . still to my difficult . still to come my difficult conversation. lawyer and campaigner stephen barrett will be here live give us his aims be here live to give us his aims and what he plans to do to break down barriers for disadvantaged youth. but next, lady colin campbell will be here to give us the the the latest from behind the palace royal palace walls in my royal roundup.

good afternoon. i'm nana akua. this is gb news news. we are britain's election channel. lots of you have been getting in

touch with your thoughts, sorry . touch with your thoughts, sorry. danny says the horse is in the national. are some of the best treated animals in the world. they probably even be they probably wouldn't even be alive wasn't for horse alive if it wasn't for horse racing. richard said. of course we keep grand we should keep the grand national. historic national. it's an historic event. love everyone event. people love it. everyone knows what they're getting into. and then josh says, riding and repeatedly whipping an animal for entertainment seems a little archaic. i'm with you on that. i'm with you on that. but listen , there's always something going on the royal household, on in the royal household, and this no different. on in the royal household, and this each no different. on in the royal household, and this each saturday, no different. on in the royal household, and this each saturday, 110 different. on in the royal household, and this each saturday, iio difto ant. and each saturday, i love to give rundown. better give you a rundown. who better to than royal biographer to do so than royal biographer lady colin campbell, who's just released new book, released her brand new book, meghan harry the real story% meghan and harry the real story% looters or victims? well, joining me now is lady colin campbell, lady colin campbell, lady c, lovely to see you and congratulations on your new book.so congratulations on your new book. so what can you tell us about it ? book. so what can you tell us about it? thank you. book. so what can you tell us about it ? thank you. well, book. so what can you tell us about it? thank you. well, yes , about it? thank you. well, yes, i thought it's about time that somebody nailed the those two to

the post, you know, and just sort of went through everything with a fine tooth comb and just got absolutely nailed, nailed everything that they've done because it's so irresponsible. >> and quite frankly, it's been a total disgrace and a disaster in terms of the commonwealth, although i think the situation is reversing now that they are being exposed and have also exposed themselves because as we are all aware , they have tanked are all aware, they have tanked in popularity on both sides of the atlantic. and no matter how many designer garments she puts on a pig is a pig with or without lipstick , so what did without lipstick, so what did you say? sorry. what was that? what was that last bit you said? >> a pig is a pig with or

without lipstick. >> oh, my colleague . >> oh, my colleague. >> oh, my colleague. >> well, apologies if anyone's offended by that lady colin campbell , offended by that lady colin campbell, you naughty offended by that lady colin campbell , you naughty lady. offended by that lady colin campbell, you naughty lady. but. yes, yes. sorry to anybody who was upset by lady colin campbell's description, but she's not the only one that said that. didn't barack obama say it about someone as well ? i think about someone as well? i think he said it about, what's the name you've got this name anyway? so you've got this fabulous book. give me some of the highlights. what what fabulous book. give me some of the we 1lights. what what fabulous book. give me some of the we 1lights. to hat what fabulous book. give me some of the we1lights.to hat in what fabulous book. give me some of the we 1lights. to hat in itvhat fabulous book. give me some of the we 1lights. to hat in it or|t can we expect to see in it or reading it? >> well, think it pretty much >> well, i think it pretty much covers everything, you know, because my original book was, originally conceived as a shot across the bow so that meghan and meghan and harry. >> well, meghan would stop trying to politicise and commercialise his being a member of the royal family. then of course, the, the excited, amongst before my book was due to be handed in. so i had to update it and redo it, which was quite a big thing. that's the original book and so much has

happenedin original book and so much has happened in the last four years, where they have really exposed themselves and shown themselves to be, extremely commercially oriented and very irresponsible and really , as far as i can see, and really, as far as i can see, two of the biggest race baiters that are in existence at the moment. and, you know, being jamaican, i've had a lot of complaints from diplomats in the west indies and in africa about the tremendous damage that they were doing to the commonwealth. and remember, the queen, the late queen, had made them president and vice president of the queen's commonwealth trust so that meghan's unique attributes as a woman of colour would have actually enhanced the interests of the commonwealth instead of the queen, went to her death thinking that they

that that the world believes that that the world believes that that the royal family were racist. i mean , and, you know, racist. i mean, and, you know, throughout the commonwealth there has been a tremendous amount of despair because of the untrue accusations that they made about the members of the royal family, and also in a lot of the commonwealth countries, people also felt that it was pretty unfair for them to be tarnishing all the british people with a racist brush when nowadays britain is one of the most racially inclusive and welcoming societies on earth . welcoming societies on earth. >> well perhaps that she i think meghan didn't really understand that though, because she took on the stuff that happens in america and probably projected it onto this country . lady colin it onto this country. lady colin campbell, listen, we're running out of time. but the book which is a must read, it's meghan and harry, real story harry, the real story persecutors or victims? lady c, thank you so much for joining

me. you're with me. i'm nana akua still to come. my lovely to talk to you. stephen barrett will be my difficult conversation in matter conversation in a matter of moments live telling moments. he'll be live telling us at a legal us about his role at a legal engagement and social mobility, championing initiatives aimed at empowering young people. first, though, let's get an update with your weather. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> good afternoon. welcome to your latest gb news weather from the met office. so it's been a bit of a drier day for some of us compared to recent weeks, but there is still plenty of showers around with low pressure situated close to the situated quite close to the north of the uk. high pressure does sit out towards the south and east, but it's this cold and the east, but it's this cold front going to bring some front that's going to bring some cloud and rain to parts of england and wales through the rest evening. it does rest of this evening. it does eventually clear its way south and into and eastwards overnight and into the leaving the start of sunday, leaving quite for most of quite a dry picture for most of us into early of

us into the early hours of sunday morning. some sunday morning. still some showers of showers around across parts of scotland these could turn scotland and these could turn heavy but under those heavy in places. but under those clear temperatures clear skies, temperatures dropping nicely around dropping off quite nicely around 7 8 degrees the south 7 or 8 degrees across the south and around 2 or 3 across and down to around 2 or 3 across parts of scotland, we could even see in places, so see some frost in places, so that does leave a bit of a chillier start to sunday across parts scotland. showers parts of scotland. those showers quite from quite quickly pushing in from the though , and spreading the west, though, and spreading their eastwards the their way eastwards through the day. south, a drier day. further south, a drier start, but we will see some cloud bubbling up through the afternoon. the best of afternoon. probably the best of the southeastern the sunshine across southeastern parts . it will be parts of england. it will be a bit of a cooler day than saturday as well. highs in the south around 14 15 and in the south around 14 or 15 and in the north around but quite north around 9 or 10, but quite brisk wind here through monday. those showers become much more widespread across the uk, moving through relatively quickly on a brisk northwesterly wind so it will feel a little cooler than over the weekend . those showers over the weekend. those showers continue into the start of the next week, and those temperatures a little below average, but recovering closer to through end of to average through the end of the looks like things the week looks like things are heating .

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gb news. >> good afternoon. it's just coming up to 5:00. this is gb news on tv , online and on news on tv, online and on digital radio. i'm nana akua. and for the next hour, me and my panel will be taking on some of the big topics hitting the headunes the big topics hitting the headlines right now. coming up, this week's difficult conversation, i'll joined by conversation, i'll be joined by broadcaster stephen broadcaster and lawyer stephen barrett to discuss his charity work, aiming to empower young individuals and promote equality of opportunity. then, for the great british debate this hour, i'm asking is rishi right to focus on a cigarette ban ? then focus on a cigarette ban? then my quickfire quiz. i test my panel on some of the big stories that caught their eye this week. but first, let's get your latest news with karen armstrong.

>> very good afternoon to you. it is 5:00. i'm aaron armstrong in the gb newsroom. the king says he's shocked and horrified by a mass knife attack in a shopping centre near bondi beach in sydney, which killed six people. you're watching on people. if you're watching on tv, can see the the tv, you can see the moment the assailant was confronted by a brave man holding bollard and brave man holding a bollard and that 40 year old male suspect was known to police . they don't was known to police. they don't believe his motive was terror related . the nine month old baby related. the nine month old baby is in a critical condition. the child's mother pleaded with others for help after also others for help after she also suffered stab wounds, and she has died in hospital . the attack has died in hospital. the attack ended when a lone female officer confronted the man and shot him dead.the confronted the man and shot him dead. the australian prime minister praised her bravery minister has praised her bravery and all emergency responders who attended today. attended the scene today. >> bondi junction was the scene of shocking violence, but it was also witness to the humanity and the heroism of our fellow australians as our brave police,

our first responders and of course, everyday people who could never have imagined that they would face such a moment. and some of the footage is quite extraordinary. >> iranian special forces have seized a container ship and 25 crew members off the coast of the united arab emirates . the the united arab emirates. the vessel, which has links to israel, was passing through the strait of hormuz. it comes amid rising tensions in the region , rising tensions in the region, with the us warning yesterday an iranian attack on israel was likely to happen sooner rather than later . likely to happen sooner rather than later. while iran has vowed to retaliate for an air strike on its consulate in syria almost two weeks ago, which killed a number of senior officers , number of senior officers, israel says will bear the israel says iran will bear the consequences an escalation consequences for an escalation of hostilities . a new poll has of hostilities. a new poll has found president biden is closing the gap on donald trump's advantage in the race to be president. the poll, by the new york times and siena college, found 45% say they'd vote for

joe biden, compared to 46% who'd vote for donald trump. it means they're now virtually tied with biden standing amongst democratic voters improving. however, age remains a concern , however, age remains a concern, with 69% saying joe biden is too old if elected , though don't. mr old if elected, though don't. mr trump, who turned 78in june, would also be the oldest us president . greater manchester president. greater manchester police say they have found what they believe to be human remains of a young baby in wigan. five people have been arrested on suspicion of concealing a death and unlawful burial. the group aged between 20 and 70 years of age, have been bailed . officials age, have been bailed. officials in turkey have ordered the detention of 13 people after yesterday's deadly cable car collision. one person was killed and ten others were injured when the cable car collided with a broken pole, ripping the pod open and sending people inside plummeting to the rocks below . plummeting to the rocks below. 174 passengers were rescued dunng 174 passengers were rescued during a massive 23 hour operation, which involved ten

helicopters and more than 600 rescue workers . the chancellor rescue workers. the chancellor says he's ready to cut taxes and bet on growth after the economy grew by 0.1% in february, the office for national statistics s also revised january's figure, pushing it up to 0.3. writing in the daily express, jeremy hunt says britain has done the hard years and the economy is bouncing back . but labour says bouncing back. but labour says most people are not feeling the benefits . with low growth and benefits. with low growth and higher taxes under the conservative government the chief executive of nhs england has called out what she says is unacceptable abuse and behaviour that doctors and nurses have to face at work . amanda pritchard face at work. amanda pritchard says the health service needs to stamp out abusive behaviour and it shouldn't be exempt from its own. me too movement. according to a major survey, there were 80,000 reports of nhs staff in

england being sexually harassed while at work last year. report arts are more prevalent amongst ambulance staff, nurses and healthcare assistants . labour healthcare assistants. labour claims britain's roads now have 100 times as many potholes as there are craters on the moon. figures estimate there were more than a million potholes in the uk year , which can cause uk last year, which can cause serious damage to cars. the party's deputy leader, angela raynen party's deputy leader, angela rayner, says rishi sunak is living on another planet after failing to fix the problem. the government says it's investing billions of pounds into improving our roads , and i am improving our roads, and i am maximus has won the grand national at aintree. the 7 to 1 joint favourite romped home by several lengths to win for jockey paul townend and trainer willie mullins , and the prize willie mullins, and the prize more than half £1 million. it capped an irish one, two, three and four in the race. however, new safety measures meant a six fewer horses took part due to

the death of four horses last year. the death of four horses last year . related stories you can year. related stories you can sign up to gb news alerts . scan sign up to gb news alerts. scan the qr code on your screen now or go to gb news. com slash alerts now it's back to . nana. alerts now it's back to. nana. >> good afternoon. it's just coming up to six minutes after 5:00. this is gb news on tv onune 5:00. this is gb news on tv online and on digital radio. i'm nana akua. and for the next houn nana akua. and for the next hour, me and my panel will be taking on some of the big topics hitting the headlines right now. this is about opinion. this show is all about opinion. it's it's theirs . and of it's mine. it's theirs. and of course yours. we'll be course it's yours. we'll be debating discussing and at times we disagree, no one we will disagree, but no one will cancelled . so joining me will be cancelled. so joining me today is broadcast from columnist lizzie cundy. and also former to jeremy corbyn, former adviser to jeremy corbyn, james . still to come, james schneider. still to come, my difficult conversation today is with lawyer steven barrett, who will be here live to tell me about his mission to foster diversity and inclusion in both his personal professional his personal and professional life . then, for the great

life. then, for the great british hour, i'm british debate this hour, i'm asking is rishi right to focus on cigarette then my mini on a cigarette ban? then my mini debates. stay tuned for that. we'll be discussing the new scottish hate laws and why a pensioner was carted off by the cops into a police van. as ever, get in touch by visiting the website gbnews.com/yoursay tell me what you think on everything we're discussing . so it's time we're discussing. so it's time for this week's difficult conversation. and today i'm joined by barrister, writer and campaigner stephen barrett. he's a distinguished legal professional whose expertise spans various aspects of commercial and financial services law. he holds a degree from oxford, so he's very clever and having lectured at cambridge even more clever, stephen brings a wealth of knowledge to the table beyond his impressive legal career. stephen is deeply committed promoting access to committed to promoting access to the bar and advancing equality of opportunity . the bar and advancing equality of opportunity. he the bar and advancing equality of opportunity . he actively of opportunity. he actively engages with diverse groups,

delivering talks, offering support to aspiring legal minds. he's as chair of the big voice london legal engagement and social mobility charity. he champions initiatives aimed at empowering young individuals from non—fee paying schools across england and wales. i'm very pleased to say that lawyer and campaigner stephen barrett joins me now. stephen, welcome . joins me now. stephen, welcome. >> not at all. >> not at all. >> it's an absolute pleasure and it's a bit of a change from how i normally sort of appear on, on television, but, this is this is the part of my life that is deeply important to me, i find it incredibly fulfilling. >> and it's the one bit of politics i will do. >> and i was , teasing one of >> and i was, teasing one of your lovely producers because he was suggesting that this was was the time when i wouldn't be political, when actually all my other television appearances, no matter how much they might upset anybody, are law . anybody, are just law. >> this is the first time i'm going to do politics in public. >> that's interesting. aren't we

lucky? thank you much for lucky? thank you very much for doing me. doing it with me. >> and hoping it won't be controversial. >> it will still politics. >> it will still be politics. >> it will still be politics. >> well, i ask you then, >> well, can i ask you then, because you've had quite an illustrious career commercial because you've had quite an illusalso s career commercial because you've had quite an illusalso s cfinancial ommercial because you've had quite an illusalso s cfinancial services al and also in financial services law, quite a strong law, and you have quite a strong focus banking and focus on banking and partnerships stuff like partnerships and stuff like that. some that. can you share some insights some of the most insights into some of the most challenging cases that you've handled on these areas? >> yes . >> yes. >> em- ea- e of the proudest >> so, one of the proudest moments i've probably had, which is just going to consign me to history as an utter nerd. >> but in financial services law, we have something called the perimeter. everything inside the perimeter. everything inside the regulated and the perimeter is regulated and everything outside the perimeter is not regulated. >> so the perimeter is quite important. >> and on us, a comment to the fca. i got to extend the perimeter. >> i personally got to draft and change the perimeter. and that's quite in in financial services. >> it's a it's a big thing, i do now, entirely high court work, i've been involved in suing or potentially suing a political parties. i've acted for some of the wealthiest peoples in the

world. i acted for a family and they were so, wealthy that i and they were so, wealthy that i and the solicitors, we had a code name to talk about the client. >> whenever we spoke. >> whenever we spoke. >> so even though we were on their side, we had to use a code name about the client, name to talk about the client, which the sort of that's the which is the sort of that's the type i'm working for, type of client i'm working for, and an awful lot. and i do an awful lot. >> i a failed financial services investment cases, failed tax schemes, minority shareholders and protecting their rights , and protecting their rights, anything really that that comes up the new development for me, which is so new, i mean new in that i've been doing it for three years, but it's still new andifs three years, but it's still new and it's not on the website. >> is that i've started doing pubuc >> is that i've started doing public law because decided public law because i've decided pubuc public law because i've decided public important public law is too important for pubuc public law is too important for putwhat mean? >> what does that mean? >> what does that mean? >> the type of things like >> well, the type of things like equality law and challenging government and doing judicial review of certain bodies because as, i think what is broadly called the culture war expands .

called the culture war expands. >> and as you get something like the de—banking scandal, now, the de—banking scandal involves a little bit of law , but it little bit of public law, but it also involves an awful lot of financial services and regulatory law. now i can i can tell you, and it's non—controversial. i doubt another lawyer would honestly disagree. the type of law lawyers are scared of is financial services law , and financial services law, and actually equalities law and pubuc actually equalities law and public law. >> it's not it's not easy. it's proper hard law. but but it's probably easier for a financial services lawyer to add on that than is for a public lawyer than it is for a public lawyer to learn financial services law. >> that's what i've been >> and so that's what i've been doing. sort moving into doing. i've sort of moving into that it seems to happen that because it seems to happen more more, seems to more and more, and it seems to be area that seems to be an area that seems to be going it's one of the going on. so it's one of the things wanted to be, in charge things i wanted to be, in charge of. i decided early on that i wanted in the high court, wanted to be in the high court, and will do quite variety of and i will do quite a variety of topics law. i am, if you topics on law. i am, if you think about it, a criminal lawyer practices in one module that they did in university, and i will practice in 5 or 6 modules that i did in university

and then probably another 5 or 6 that i've had to teach myself after university. fascinating isn't it? >> the de—banking situation is fascinating. it is , it is. where fascinating. it is, it is. where are banks? where do stand? are banks? where do they stand? are allowed do that? are they allowed to do that? >> no, i don't think they are. oh, wow. >> but in a fine sense, yeah. >> but in a fine sense, yeah. >> i think that the banks have perhaps themselves bit out perhaps got themselves a bit out of we've just got of kilter. and we've just got something consumer something called the consumer duty, come in in duty, which has come in in financial services law. yet financial services law. it's yet to litigated. these are to be litigated. and these are the bits of the things i like the bits of the things i like the bits of the that aren't settled yet. the law that aren't settled yet. >> mean, nigel farage >> i mean, didn't nigel farage do that to the do well bringing that to the forefront there's many forefront because there's many people been debunked. people who've been debunked. i didn't i'd even didn't even know i'd never even heard debunked. but heard about being debunked. but heanng heard about being debunked. but hearing then hearing from nigel and then heanng hearing from nigel and then hearing these normal hearing from all these normal people you and i, everyday people like you and i, everyday people like you and i, everyday people accounts, people having their accounts, accounts just withdrawn because the don't like the bank decided they don't like the bank decided they don't like the of jib. mean, the cut of yourjib. i mean, that's just on, is it? that's just not on, is it? >> a it's a major issue. >> it's a it's a major issue. >> it's a it's a major issue. >> it will play out throughout the courts. >> interesting. it >> interesting. isn't it fascinating. fascinating. now you're just a lawyer or you're not just a lawyer or a barrister. what's the difference with a barrister and a lawyer? >> so, mostly so the word lawyer is not regulated, so anybody can

call themselves lawyer. and call themselves a lawyer. and i actually i tend i my own actually i tend to i told my own mp i tend to tell members of mp and i tend to tell members of parliament members of the parliament and members of the house lords, in view, house of lords, in my view, i think they're lawyers. think they're all lawyers. i mean, law mean, they're dealing with law every day, why call every day, so why not call yourself a lawyer? you know, scholars the law, academic scholars of the law, academic lawyers, they're all lawyers, i think they're all entitled lawyer. entitled to the word lawyer. what in the way define what we do in the way we define it regulate that it is we don't regulate that word. no criminal or word. so there's no criminal or civil around calling civil penalty around calling yourself a lawyer. if you want to call yourself a lawyer, you could lawyer. yeah, you could i mean, i but you as lawyer, you would be to free the regulated terms are solicitor and barrister and that's the barrister and that's that's the divide i mean divide between them. i mean solicitors are , are, incredibly solicitors are, are, incredibly intelligent, individuals, they just, they tend to do, that's where most of the money is in law. and most of the young people i assist go to on be solicitors. so i'm very fond of the solicitors profession, and it's booming. it's doing great for british business, it for british business, but it tends to of is what we tends to 90% of it is what we call non—contentious, not court based. 90% of it is, is processed. so think of the major

departments are things like corporate and corporate is deaung corporate and corporate is dealing with mergers and acquisitions and housing or something like that. property is a huge one, but it tends to be commercial property in the city. okay. where of okay. and that's where most of the money and the jobs are the money is. and the jobs are for my social mobility. young people . people. >> so talk to me about your what you're doing young people. you're doing with young people. what it exactly? what what is it exactly? >> i got to i to >> well, i got to i got to a sunny 2011 spring and i had just paid off my all my student debts. i mean, i didn't have any easy life. i grew up normal. you know, i the one thing i always say to the young people is that l, say to the young people is that i, i ate safeway savers breakfast cereal. and every day i, i ate safeway savers bcravedt cereal. and every day i, i ate safeway savers bcraved kellogg'sind every day i, i ate safeway savers bcraved kellogg's andevery day i, i ate safeway savers bcraved kellogg's and soy day i, i ate safeway savers bcraved kellogg's and soy da'i i craved kellogg's and so now i have kellogg's house right have kellogg's in my house right now. and because i was just determined that one i would now. and because i was just determiitoi that one i would now. and because i was just determiito afford,»ne i would now. and because i was just determiito afford, ie i would now. and because i was just determiito afford, i probably ould be able to afford, i probably shouldn't but shouldn't promote a brand. but other are other other cereals are available. know, i grew available. but, you know, i grew up normal, as would put it, up normal, as i would put it, and, and, thanks to thanks to the law that i do , you know, by the law that i do, you know, by 2011, i felt i qualified in

2003. so your viewers can tell us at the time , it took a while us at the time, it took a while to pay off the large amounts of debts. >> how much did you get into debt? >> oh, well, i had the state debt, and i had, i think, 35,000 additional debt, which would now only only be bigger. but but i felt sort of happier, freer. and i thought it was time to, to, to give back, and i started volunteering. i volunteered for two, two charities. i volunteered for the social mobility foundation, for whom i have stayed a volunteer. and they are incredibly important. they're nationwide. they help thousands of young people, not just in law. they have a program called the aspiring professionals program , and it professionals program, and it helps young people who want to get any sort of professional job and it matches them up with mentors. and it runs training sessions. it teaches what now sessions. it teaches what we now call i've call soft skills. because i've been we developed been through that. we developed the that young the idea that that our young people be trained people might need to be trained in skills as, young in these soft skills as, young people who are applying for graduate jobs who graduate jobs or who get a university well be university test might well be taught the taught something called the watson test by me,

watson glaser test by me, because i volunteer that because i volunteer to do that for social mobility for the social mobility foundation. mostly mentor foundation. and mostly i mentor for in the 13 years for them. and in the 13 years i've done it for them, sometimes i've done it for them, sometimes i've had a couple of mentees because they've had there haven't enough so haven't been enough mentors. so sometimes enough sometimes there aren't enough lawyers volunteering sometimes there aren't enough lawy

it does help and assist you. and what mobility what the social mobility foundation its foundation does with its mentoring really mentoring program is really bndge mentoring program is really bridge . and then at the bridge that gap. and then at the same time, i volunteered for another charity to just sit as a moot judge. that's all i did. sign up to big voice, london said. judge and said. it's a moot judge and i never them. and i helped never left them. and i helped them. we formed a management committee formed. we committee and we formed. we became a we have to get became a charity. we have to get regulated. to regulated. we had to do safeguarding and put in all sorts of systems and protected because to be a proper because you want to be a proper charity, you know, it's got to be done by the book. i'm quite by the book in character. and my charity, big london, which charity, big voice london, which is we help hundreds of is now bvl. we help hundreds of children every year through a series projects. children every year through a seriand projects. children every year through a seriand these, :ts. children every year through a seriand these, these mainly >> and these, these mainly disadvantaged kids or just. yeah, if people are watching yeah, so if people are watching and wants to get in touch with the charity, they should. so and what kind of age is are they? >> 16, 17, so it's , it's sixth >> 16, 17, so it's, it's sixth form, i mean to, to come here, i left we've got a project running at the moment with cumberland lodge, where we've got some of our young people doing a residential course about the residential course about on the rule law . and to come

rule of law. and i left to come here. can't drive, so i came here. i can't drive, so i came in taxi and i talked to my in a taxi and i talked to my taxi driver about it, and he's going to his son, his taxi driver about it, and he's goirwants his son, his taxi driver about it, and he's goirwants to his son, his taxi driver about it, and he's goirwants to be son, his taxi driver about it, and he's goirwants to be accountant, son wants to be an accountant, son wants to be an accountant, so going register with so he's going to register with smf . but bvl, you know, smf. but but bvl, you know, young people should and come join us. also need volunteers join us. we also need volunteers of people aspire to be of young people who aspire to be lawyers. that's another thing that we help with. >> and so bvl is the big voice. london. so that's london. but the other charity you said is a national charity. >> but one of my proudest >> yes. but one of my proudest achievements >> yes. but one of my proudest achitaking1ts >> yes. but one of my proudest achitaking it; >> yes. but one of my proudest achitaking it national, which we was taking it national, which we did so did during the pandemic. so we're actually going to completely we completely rebrand because we because yourself london completely rebrand because we becausework. yourself london doesn't work. >> if you're a national, >> if you're now a national, there's lot of our viewers there's a lot of our viewers might that, and might be wanting to do that, and they'll that they might be wanting to do that, and they'ido that they might be wanting to do that, and they'ido it that they might be wanting to do that, and they'ido it because that they might be wanting to do that, and they'ido it because they'reey might be wanting to do that, and they'ido it because they're yes, can't do it because they're yes, yes. >> and they must they must know that can. we we are now that they can. we are we are now nationwide the jurisdiction nationwide in the jurisdiction of wales because of england and wales because of course, its course, scotland has its own legal system. it it's very legal system. so it it's very difficult sort it feels legal system. so it it's very diffi

we law we do one with the law commission. mean, with commission. i mean, this with cumberland lodge and cumberland lodge royal you lodge is a royal charity. you know, we had, baroness hale came as a guest to the first night of this is the third of the residentials, and we, we get our young people to genuinely access law. so i have sat in a room where 30 young people, we were still london them, but so they were from tower hamlets and bethnal and they had bethnal green and they had engaged 13 they'd engaged over 13 weeks. they'd given seven a week of given seven hours a week of their learn corporate their time to learn corporate insolvency law, and they gave a presentation corporate presentation on corporate insolvency law, which was intelligent and incisive. >> they can learn, they can learn. so listen, if people want to get in touch with your charity, what's the website ? charity, what's the website? where to go? where do they need to go? >> you put you put into >> so you put you put it into google big voice london because although is although it's branding is changing. it put that in because it's us it's the easiest way to get us for social mobility for the social mobility foundation. into into a foundation. put, put into into a search social mobility search engine, social mobility foundation and you the foundation and you follow the websites you sign up websites through and you sign up to project . to the project. >> it the social mobility >> i mean it the social mobility foundation national thing . foundation is a national thing. yes, for lots of different types of different jobs. not just

that, not just and again, that, not just law. and again, they're 17, 18 year olds. they're 16, 17, 18 year olds. yes yes. >> that's incredible. and it's very rewarding. one of the things i like to tell the young people is that it's very easy to grow up thinking that nobody cares you , but actually cares about you, but actually people are out there and they do care. you know, they will genuinely their time and genuinely give up their time and people will want you to people you know will want you to succeed. and we have such a wealth of talent this wealth of talent in this country. mean, almost country. i mean, it's almost a crying waste i crying shame to waste it. i mean, i will get very political here, a it's disgrace here, but it's a it's a disgrace if we this talent. if we waste this talent. >> absolutely. listen, >> it is. absolutely. listen, stephen, been a pleasure stephen, it's been a pleasure talking and through talking to you and not through the telly, but but actually to get studio hear get you in the studio and hear what thank so much. what you do. thank you. so much. and pleasure. pleasure hearing and a pleasure. pleasure hearing all the things that stephen does, barrett a does, that stephen barrett is a lawyer writer . all right. lawyer and a writer. all right. well, if you've just tuned in, this gone minutes after this has gone 20 minutes after 5:00. is gb news. i'm nana 5:00. this is gb news. i'm nana akua come . the mini akua still to come. the mini debate. discussing debate. i'll be discussing the news, crime news, scottish hate crime laws and why a pensioner was carted off by a cops into a police van for a woman. morag she's 74. but

next it's time for the great british debate this hour. and i'm asking, is rishi right to focus on a cigarette ban?

good afternoon. it's 24 minutes after 5:00. this is a gb news. we're live on tv, online and on digital radio. i'm nana. akua. welcome. if you've just tuned in, it's time now for the great british debate this hour. and i'm asking, is rishi right to focus a cigarette ban ? rishi focus on a cigarette ban? rishi sunak faces a significant challenge next as mps will challenge next week as mps will debate his proposal to ban smoking, which has drawn criticism from former prime ministers and his ex home secretary. now the ban will involve raising the smoking age until it encompasses the entire population . thus, alongside bans population. thus, alongside bans on disposable vapes, the legislation is expected to advance with so i'm asking . i'm

advance with so i'm asking. i'm joined by former adviser to the bank of england, roger gewolb rogen bank of england, roger gewolb roger. what do you make of this? a lot of people are saying it's a bit of a nanny state, but he could be looking at it from a financial angle, which would save potentially the nhs a lot of money, all right, now. yeah, i think it's rishi just clutching it. >> more straws. >> more straws. >> i mean, you know, we had rishi worrying about putting chess boards in public parks, and then we had , rishi, you and then we had, rishi, you know, and his conferences on artificial intelligence, i was saying that's probably because there's not a lot of the real stuff around him , and rishi stuff around him, and rishi concentrating on all sorts of things that are relevant, far into the future, rather than concentrating on all the things that he's failed and failing in,

such as his promises such as shoring up the defences of this country , as we're looking at, country, as we're looking at, the prospect of, of war with a very small w i, i don't think it's that likely, but people are certainly concerned , with the certainly concerned, with the cost of living crisis , cost of living crisis, immigration, all these things. he just doesn't address these. and he just talks about these lofty subjects that really are not critical to people today because he's he's run out of things to say about them. >> some people might argue that actually, look, the nhs spends an absolute fortune. there are thousands and thousands of people who die each year needlessly because of tobacco. and in actual fact, if it were invented today, it wouldn't. it probably would not be allowed to be sale . is he not right to be on sale. is he not right to focus on things like that? i mean, think of the billions we could save the nhs, think of the billions save the nhs billions we could save the nhs by cutting out the zillions of

middle managers, paid huge salaries in the world. >> the world's the planet's most diverse organisation , all the diverse organisation, all the diversity managers and experts. he could waste , he could save he could waste, he could save all that money. tomorrow afternoon by sacking them all, sure, he's got a point. smoking is unhealthy. he didn't think that one up, but, we've got so much more urgent things to deal with, and he's got his political future to deal with, which is which is not looking very good. >> it's not looking good at all. and everybody seems to be deserting the party as well. but, i mean, the argument is some people are saying that, oh, it's a bit of a nanny state. do you, do you subscribe to that argument or do you. >> that's that's a different >> no, that's that's a different that's side to the that's a different side to the question. that's a question. that's that's a different issue. and is it a nanny state to tell people, i mean, go to france and tell people they can't smoke ? i don't

people they can't smoke? i don't think they'd wear it, go to spain and do it would be the same situation. is it a nanny state, or is it not, i think it probably is a bit of a nanny state. if people do want to smoke, then i guess they should be able to smoke. but he certainly can introduce all the legislation on advertising and all the things that tempt people, particularly young people, particularly young people, into smoking. he can, as far as i'm concerned, make those as rigid and onerous as he wants. but at the end of the day, you can't, i don't think, start arresting people in the street for having a fag. >> what about the argument that some people say that actually, if you were to stop people from smoking and cigarettes weren't purchased , that the government purchased, that the government would lose a lot of money in terms of tax revenue, i'm sure that's not something that rishi has overlooked , but he's

has overlooked, but he's probably countered it. by, as i say, he's clutching at straws. he's got nothing else to talk about at this point. >> well, roger, let me bring in bill rammell. he's a former adviser to the bank. you're the former adviser to banker william, bill rammell former adviser to banker w actually bill rammell former adviser to banker w actually a bill rammell former adviser to banker w actually a formerill rammell former adviser to banker w actually a former labour mell is actually a former labour minister. bill what do you think about this as rishi clutching at straws ? that's roger is straws? that's what roger is saying. he right to point saying. or is he right to point out dangers cigarettes out the dangers of cigarettes and try of get rid of and try and sort of get rid of them forever ? them forever? >> i mean, look, i broadly support ban as do over 70% support the ban as do over 70% of the electorate. >> but i think rishi sunak almost exclusive focus on this when he vacillates and fails on so many other issues, really does demonstrate his weak ness, you know, there's virtually no legislation being brought to the house of commons because every time he does bring something, he risks division and defeat from his own side. >> and i think when this comes to a vote next tuesday , it's

to a vote next tuesday, it's going to reinforce that weakness because i think a significant number of his own mps are going to vote against him , but on the to vote against him, but on the substance of the issue, i actually think this is a welcome measure. there's huge damage that's done, by smoking. >> you know, it accounts deaths from, tobacco account for half of the difference in life expectancy between rich and poor and i think this could make a significant contribution. >> and actually , my experience >> and actually, my experience is the electorate are ahead of politicians when it comes to smoking. i remember when it was a free vote, when i was an mp, to bring in the smoking ban in pubuc to bring in the smoking ban in public places, and i was concerned. was it a step too far ? >> ?- >> was 7- >> was it 7_ >> was it the 7 >> was it the so—called nanny state? and i did a poll of my own constituency, and over two thirds were in favour of the ban. >> so i think this is the right way forward, but i think , you way forward, but i think, you know, the fact that sunak appears to be focusing on this

as opposed to many other things like, you know , cutting waiting like, you know, cutting waiting lists in the health service, the lack of a social care plan. >> it demonstrates the weakness of his position, but, he would argue that, well, what he's doing is something that i mean, look, to be frank, he's probably not going to be long in the position, long enough to actually instil any this. actually instil any of this. this a dream, this is all just a pipe dream, as far can see, because as far as i can see, because he's probably going to his he's probably going to lose his job. but would probably job. but but he would probably argue actually this is part argue that actually this is part of plan the nhs bill. >> well, it's a small contribution . i mean, yeah, the contribution. i mean, yeah, the costs of people dying from smoking are about £4 billion a yeah smoking are about £4 billion a year. i mean, bearing in mind this is a plan that will take a significant period of years, to , significant period of years, to, to effectively outlaw smoking, yes , it it's more contribution. yes, it it's more contribution. but, you know, he ought to be now focusing on cutting waiting lists. >> so they've increased so billwas is still no plan for social care. >> so yes or no then is rishi

right to focus on banning smoking bill yes or no, not to focus on it. >> he's not right to do that. and roger gewolb yes or no? no, he's not right. well listen, thank you so much to of thank you so much to both of you. former minister bill you. former labour minister bill rammell former adviser rammell and also former adviser to of england. roger to the bank of england. roger gewolb, talk to you gewolb, very good to talk to you both. you're me. i'm both. well, you're with me. i'm nana akua. is gb news still nana akua. this is gb news still to we'll continue the to come. we'll continue with the great hour. great british debate this hour. and is rishi right and i'm asking, is rishi right to cigarette ban ? to focus on a cigarette ban? ulez the thoughts of my panel, broadcaster columnist broadcaster and columnist lizzie cundy, labour cundy, also former labour adviser james adviser to jeremy corbyn, james schneider . adviser to jeremy corbyn, james schneider. but first, let's adviser to jeremy corbyn, james schneider . but first, let's get schneider. but first, let's get your latest with karen your latest news with karen armstrong. >> good evening. it's 532. i'm karen armstrong, the australian prime minister has paid tribute to the extraordinary bravery shown by members of the public and first responders after a mass knife attack near bondi beach in sydney, which left six people dead. if you're watching on tv, you can see the moment the assailant was confronted by

a man holding a bollard. the 40 year old male offender was known to police. however they don't believe his motive was terror related. a nine month old baby is in critical condition. the child's mother has died in hospital. the attack ended when a lone female officer confronted the man and shot him dead . the man and shot him dead. iranian special forces have seized a container ship in 25 crew members off the coast of the uae . the vessel, which has the uae. the vessel, which has links to israel, was passing through the strait of hormuz . it through the strait of hormuz. it comes amid rising tensions in the region, with the us warning an iranian attack on israel is likely to happen sooner rather than later. iran has vowed to retaliate for an airstrike on its consulate in syria almost two weeks ago, which killed a number of senior officers. us president biden is closing the gap on donald trump, according to a new poll highlighting just how close november's presidential election could be. the poll by the new york times and siena college found 45% say they'd vote for the president,

compared to 46 for mr trump. it means they're now virtually tied with joe biden's standing amongst democratic voters , amongst democratic voters, improving i am maximus has won the grand national at aintree after changes to safety rules, so the highest number of horses crossed the finish line since 1992. the 71 7 to 1 joint favourite romped home by seven lengths to win for jockey paul townsend and trainer willie mullins. they scooped more than half £1 million in prize money. you can sign up to gb news alerts for the latest . scan the alerts for the latest. scan the qr code on your screen, or go to our website for more details. now it's back to . nana. now it's back to. nana. >> still to come in the money debate, the scottish new hate crime laws and why a pensioner was carted off by the cops in a police van. next though, we'll continue with the great british

debate this hour. and i'm asking, is rishi right to focus on a cigarette ban?

good afternoon. it's just coming up to 38 minutes after 5:00. if you've just tuned in. where have you've just tuned in. where have you been ? no. sorry. welcome on you been? no. sorry. welcome on board. i'm akua. this is gb board. i'm nana akua. this is gb news. we are live on tv, online and on digital radio. it's time for the great british debate this hour. and i'm asking, is rishi right focus on rishi right to focus on a cigarette facing a cigarette ban? he's facing a significant next week, significant challenge next week, his mps will debate his proposal to ban smoking . a lot of to ban smoking. a lot of criticism has been drawn out of it. former prime ministers and his ex secretary, name his ex home secretary, to name but few . the his ex home secretary, to name but few. the ban will his ex home secretary, to name but few . the ban will involve but a few. the ban will involve raising the smoking age until it encompasses entire encompasses the entire population that is, alongside bands vapes . the bands of disposable vapes. the legislation is expected to advance with labour's backing. so for the great british debate this hour, i'm asking is rishi

right to focus on such a ban? well let's see what my panel make of that. i'm joined by broadcaster and author and journalist. are you a journalist as well? yeah, as well i'm everything. and also former adviser to jeremy corbyn, james schneider. right. i'm going to go to lizzie first on this one. >> well, excuse the pun nana, but this is a pipe dream. i mean, i think it actually is a smokescreen because he's not concentrating on what he should have been. i mean, look at his pledges . how have been. i mean, look at his pledges. how about he makes one of those works? we're in a high cost of living immigration cost of living the immigration crisis. he's on about crisis. and he's going on about cigarettes, look, we all know cigarettes, look, we all know cigarettes aren't good for us. they're not to do it. but this is just ludicrous. it doesn't even make any sense at all. so stop the nanny state approach. you know, the way forward is education, parents influence. but this rishi, he's got to give it up. i'm sorry, but he's at the fag end of his career and it says it all. it says it all.

he's going to be the butt of everyone's jokes. >> oh, i do like it . so everyone's jokes. >> oh, i do like it. so many of them now. can't you can you match that, james? god, match that, james? oh my god, no i but agree with i can't, but i agree with basically all all of that. >> what's he to be >> what's he want to be remembered for ? banning smoking remembered for? banning smoking in 2060s. remembered for? banning smoking in 2(would save lives. i >> that would save lives. i mean, and a lot of money from the nhs as well. so there are loads of ways in which you can reduce smoking without without banning it. >> and , i don't, you know, i'm >> and, i don't, you know, i'm an ex smoker. i'm pleased to be an ex smoker. i'm pleased to be an ex smoker. i'm pleased to be an ex smoker, but i think banning things because you can't think of anything else to do, like think of anything else to do, uke sunak think of anything else to do, like sunak he can't like rishi sunak can't, he can't do . we've got huge do anything. we've got huge numbers of problems, which he isn't dealing with. you know, we've discussed all of these things week after week after week. and he's decided, no, he's not going to do any of those things. he's not going to focus on any of those. he's going to things. he's not going to focus on a|people ose. he's going to things. he's not going to focus on a|people smoking going to things. he's not going to focus on a|people smoking in)ing to stop people smoking in the future. >> f- f see it now, and i >> i can just see it now, and i feel sorry for those who some of his home secretaries he's his home secretaries that he's got of, they're trying to got rid of, they're trying to say, we focus say, look, can we focus on the immigration? hey, how about

this, the this, this ban from the cigarettes? got another cigarettes? i've got another idea . idea. >> think he's just basically >> i think he's just basically buying before gets buying time before he gets thrown he's becoming thrown out, and he's becoming the laughing stock. he really needs to wave that handkerchief and just give it up. do you think? really, with all seriousness, i hate smoking, right? >> i'm an ex—smoker. i'm the worst kind of. even if i'm walking behind somebody in their slipstream of cigarettes, i get angry. you know, i think it's disgusting. though i'm disgusting. even though i'm walking alongside a heavily polluted road, you know, with carbon breathing carbon monoxide breathing through the point through my veins. but the point is he has a good. what is this. he has a good. what he's saying is he wants to save the health service of the health service a lot of money and make people more healthy. good thing. >> saving the health service money. good thing. more healthy . money. good thing. more healthy. good thing. there are loads of ways in which you could do those which don't involve a future like also , how many people is he like also, how many people is he going to stop from smoking each year? it's so it's only the first of all, it's 18 year olds who won't smoke, and then 19 year then 20 year olds, year olds and then 20 year olds, and by 30 and then but you know, by 30 years maybe he's improving years time, maybe he's improving

people's you to people's health. if you want to improve people's focus people's health. if you want to imjthat. people's focus people's health. if you want to imjthat. ifeople's focus people's health. if you want to imjthat. if youe's focus people's health. if you want to imjthat. if you want focus people's health. if you want to imjthat. if you want to focus people's health. if you want to imjthat. if you want to save us on that. if you want to save money for nhs, then chuck money for the nhs, then chuck out of the privateers who out some of the privateers who are pulling some money out of it or you know, whatever or whatever. you know, whatever you whatever you think is manager, whatever you think is manager, whatever you whatever think, you think, whatever you think, whatever you think is the right way it, then focus on way to do it, then focus on focus on those things not focus on those things and not and on i the and not on this. i mean, the idea that you can like ban your way to also this future, the smoking ban. >> remember the smoking ban that came and people came in though, and most people thought it would unworkable thought it would be unworkable and it worked well. >> did work. and i mean >> yeah, it did work. and i mean , days, being on , i remember the days, being on an my dad lighting an aeroplane and my dad lighting up a cigarette as a little kid. i he can't believe it's i mean, he can't believe it's madness, but how far we come. but can't be banning how but he can't be banning it. how about just, you know, about he just, you know, increase tax on, you know, increase the tax on, you know, tobacco can't tobacco more education he can't ban. doesn't make ban. and it also doesn't make sense because this happens after you're born. the 1st of january 2009. >> and it's already happening . >> and it's already happening. the number of people smoking is decreasing every year anyway. so it's not like there's suddenly this new surge of smokers. young

people aren't starting smoking, but there's issues with vapes. >> but but why doesn't rishi concentrate on his five pledges? i mean, get one of them to work. >> i think he would love everybody to forget them . everybody to forget them. >> well, sorry. stop the boat. stop boats. hasn't stop the boats. he hasn't stopped . i mean, he couldn't stopped. i mean, he couldn't stopped. i mean, he couldn't stop pedalo. be honest. stop a pedalo. let's be honest. we all. >> ell- e ideas have gone >> sorry sunak ideas have gone up smoke. how sad man. what up in smoke. how sad man. what do you think? though? this show is nothing without you your is nothing without you and your views. some our views. let's welcome some of our great their great british voices. their opportunity the show opportunity to be on the show and tell us what they think about topics we're about the topics we're discussing. i've got four of you. who we you. yes, right. who should we start with? to go to start with? i'm going to go to alan. in london. rishi alan. alan in london. rishi sunak right to sunak actually, is he right to focus a cigarette ban? focus on a cigarette ban? >> nana. >> hiya, nana. >> hiya, nana. >> well, he's going to be out of a job soon, isn't he? >> so every pm needs a legacy. >> so every pm needs a legacy. >> know, had his >> you know, boris had his pushbike many a ride was had pushbike so many a ride was had in london thanks to boris and, rishi was head boy at winchester. >> now he's just proving he's no more than a prefect. >> he's like his head boy at westminster. >> and, you know, it's it is

ridiculous, there's far more pressing things which need sorting out. you know, alcohol, obesity also. >> and maybe and maybe a problem for nhs and maybe that new zombie drug as well that's hitting the streets, that flesh eating zombie bug. he might want to, drug. he might want to get on to that. let's go to miranda richardson. miranda richardson. not the miranda richardson but our miranda richardson but our miranda richardson northamptonshire. richardson in northamptonshire. miranda, you think? miranda, what do you think? >> anna. i've got one >> afternoon, anna. i've got one for you. >> it's all smoke and mirrors again . again. >> yeah, crazy, crazy . >> yeah, crazy, crazy. >> yeah, crazy, crazy. >> and again, i agree with the entire panel. >> today we. there's no pledges being sorted. >> there's nothing being talked about. >> there's nothing being talked about . but >> there's nothing being talked about. but i'll >> there's nothing being talked about . but i'll tell you what. about. but i'll tell you what. we'll chuck this thing out and see how we go, at the end of the day, start with education. >> let's say the decline in smokers is huge. >> let's say the decline in sm> let's say the decline in sm> let's say the decline in sm> let's say the decline in sm> i, me also ex—smoker, you know, the decline is, is there. so start with education. i agree with you. >> we invest in education. >> we invest in education. >> that's where we change obesity. we change. >> now . do you know miranda?

>> now. do you know miranda? somebody told me somebody told me, man. somebody told me that if stop smoking, have if i don't stop smoking, i have lips an anus . if i don't stop smoking, i have lips an anus. oh, yes. and lips like an anus. oh, yes. and that stopped in my tracks. that stopped me in my tracks. i'm so vain. david balme, david balme in watford are like you, nana. >> i'm an expert. i haven't smoked for 33 years, but i remember the days when they had advertising on the cars going around formula one and snooker, and they banned those and that was stop smoking , and then they was stop smoking, and then they banned advertising they banned all advertising and they banned all advertising and they banned they banned banned all advertising and they banny if they banned banned all advertising and they banny if people they banned banned all advertising and they banny if people wantey banned banned all advertising and they banny if people want to 3anned banned all advertising and they banny if people want to smoke, that. if people want to smoke, they'll . it's great they'll smoke. it's great headunes they'll smoke. it's great headlines because if he gets labour support, it gets through parliament. he's got an act under name . but someone said under his name. but someone said what about obesity? let's do something proper about getting educating children about the dangers of smoke, the dangers of eating fast food and how you can live a better, healthier life . live a better, healthier life. >> well, that would be the way, wouldn't it? and gareth wyn jones in snowdonia. >> yeah, we want to be >> yeah, again, we want to be talking about freedom of choice and he's taking another freedom

of choice from people. >> you know, it's ridiculous . >> you know, it's ridiculous. >> you know, it's ridiculous. >> if he wanted to do something, why doesn't he sort out the illegal drug problems we've got in this country? this country is rife with all kinds of different drugs that are illegal, which are killing our youngsters. >> you know that that would be something to address. smoking is something to address. smoking is something happened something that's always happened and there'll always be people smoking. >> i'm partial to the odd nice havana cigar, to be honest with you.so havana cigar, to be honest with you. so i, i will not be quitting the odd puff here and there for rishi and the rest of them. and i've come to the age where i don't really care, and i do . do. >> i do agree as well. we should be educating the next generation that smoking is bad and eating rubbish is bad and backing british agriculture. >> yeah, look at the bike. >> yeah, look at the bike. >> look at the dog. >> look at the dog. >> look at the dog. >> look at the lovely view we've got up here. >> listen , gareth, thank you so >> listen, gareth, thank you so much for your thoughts. that's gareth snowdonia gareth wyn jones and snowdonia david also david baldwin, watford also miranda richardson in northamptonshire and alan cook in london. lovely to talk to

you. those are my voices. let's see you've been saying. see what you've been saying. johnny focus johnny says no. his sole focus should be on sorting immigration out. his priorities all out. he's got his priorities all wrong . steve says. are all wrong. steve says. we are all adults. don't need adults. we don't need everything. just because everything. banning just because it's we not free it's unhealthy. are we not free to lives how we wish? i to live our lives how we wish? i don't smoke anymore, but they'll come your you're come for whatever your you're copping, you're coping mechanism come for whatever your you're conext., you're coping mechanism come for whatever your you're co next. , you'rsays)ing mechanism come for whatever your you're co next. , you'rsays yes,mechanism come for whatever your you're co next. , you'rsays yes, needs 1ism is next. brian says yes, needs banning. disgusting habit that kills thousands and destroys the health of even more. eventually the nhs will be free of having to treat health issues directly related to smoking and consequently be able to concentrate on treating genuine illness . and simon says of illness. and simon says of course he shouldn't be focused on smoking bans. far more important issues, issues chief among the invasion of among them being the invasion of our southern shores completely . our southern shores completely. right. well, listen, coming up, my quick fire quiz, i test the panel on some of the stories that caught their eye this week. but up, my mini debate but next up, my mini debate scotland's new crime laws. scotland's new hate crime laws. they've

i hello. good afternoon. i'm nana akua this is gb news now. a 74 year old woman. moira macdonald brown, found herself unjustly accused of a hate crime after endunng accused of a hate crime after enduring two years of abuse from a neighbour. despite being the victim of the alleged verbal abuse and garden vandalism. morag was unexpectedly arrested by police following an accusation of using an abusive slur, which is one against people who are disabled. the incident left her deeply traumatised. it highlights concerns about the implications of the new hate crime legislation. so joining me, james snyder , and also the james snyder, and also the fabulous lizzie cundy. god, james, this is awful. isn't it? >> it sounds like carting off, women in their 70s is bad, and it seems like it was. it was a mistake. of course, hate crimes should be dealt with. i don't know whether non—crime hate incident, though. >> somebody reported it, it >> somebody reported it, but it was neighbour. was.

was a neighbour. but it was. >> wrong. clearly >> it was wrong. clearly something has gone wrong. >> she up the >> but she ended up in the police van. >> it's appalling. it's absolutely, absolutely appalling that ashamed that yusef should be ashamed of himself. say , come back, himself. and i say, come back, jemmy krankie. all is forgiven. >> honestly, wouldn't say that >> honestly, i wouldn't say that if i were you, because what she's humza useless? she's got is humza useless? which is protege. which is her protege. >> how this going to be >> but how is this going to be policed? it's absolutely disgusting. ludicrous i >> -- >> so, morag, just for you, i hope you're okay. we are disgusted by that as well. and humza. useless. well, you know less said about that the better morag but sorry about that. but it's morag but sorry about that. but wsfime morag but sorry about that. but it's time now for the quickfire quiz. it's the part of the show where test my panel on some of where i test my panel on some of the other topics. hitting the headlines. lizzie cundy, your buzzer, schneider, headlines. lizzie cundy, your buzz�*buzzer, schneider, headlines. lizzie cundy, your buzz�*buzzer, please schneider, headlines. lizzie cundy, your buzz�*buzzer, please . schneider, headlines. lizzie cundy, your buzz�*buzzer, please . no hneider, headlines. lizzie cundy, your buzz�*buzzer, please . no one der, headlines. lizzie cundy, your buzz�*buzzer, please . no one play your buzzer, please. no one play along at home. what the new along at home. what is the new minimum limit to use minimum age limit to use whatsapp the uk? it 16, 13 whatsapp in the uk? is it 16, 13 or 10? ooh, this is a joint one. lizzie could be be 1313. the answer is, james snyder. what do you think? >> i think that's right. >> i think that's right. >> say something else just in case she's wrong. it is. b it's too late. okay. right.

>> it obviously going to be. >> it was obviously going to be. >> it was obviously going to be. >> closest answer wins >> that closest answer wins millions people the millions of people across the nonh millions of people across the north the skies north america look to the skies on to witness a total on monday to witness a total solar the solar eclipse across the continent. place continent. the first place in the plunged darkness was the us plunged into darkness was eagle texas. when did the eagle pass, texas. when did the area last see a total eclipse? jeremy schneider 1832. lizzie cundy 1838. ooh 1397. so jeremy schneider 1832. lizzie cundy1838. ooh 1397. so i jeremy schneider 1832. lizzie cundy 1838. ooh 1397. so i think you're the closest. lizzie cundy only by three years. well, although it makes a difference in my life. >> right? >> right? >> open question . question three >> open question. question three how did hardest geezer russ cook celebrate the end of his africa run? lizzie cundy he had a cocktail, a raspberry. >> it's a oh, i remember the raspberry daiquiri. i think raspberry daiquiri. i think raspberry daiquiri. i think raspberry daiquiri . cocktail. raspberry daiquiri. cocktail. alcoholic beverage. yes gin and tonic. >> gin and tonic. the answer is a strawberry daiquiri. >> daiquiri. lily lily, i think that's very good. right. >> question . or false question

>> question. or false question for the loch ness centre in the highlands has asked nasa to help with its search for the mythical creature. true or false? lizzie it's true, firstly . true? no. it's true, firstly. true? no. >> say, just in case you're wrong. she did it. it's >> say, just in case you're wrong. she did it . it's true. it wrong. she did it. it's true. it is true that you are right. and finally, last question. prime minister rishi sunak offered a fulsome apology to fans, which . fulsome apology to fans, which. >> okay, samba, adidas. >> okay, samba, adidas. >> very good. lizzie cundy is a the trainers were of course a. i was asking you what the trainers were. the adidas samba rishi sunak apologised to all fans of samba. adidas for being accused of ruining credibility, of ruining their credibility, as he a pair. well, he was pictured in a pair. well, listen, on today's show i've been asking grand been asking has the grand national passed its sell by date? according to twitter date? according to our twitter poll, you say yes, 62% of poll, 37% of you say yes, 62% of you say no. and in our second poll, is rishi right to focus on a cigarette ban? this dean percent of you say yes, just 84% of you say no. interesting tom bradby. those results are interesting. i've got to say a huge thank you though, to my

panel broadcaster and columnist lizzie cundy. thank you so much, lizzie. thank you. and also former adviser to jeremy corbyn, james schneider. thank you james. thank you. and a huge thank you to you at home for your company. up next it's the saturday i'll be back saturday five. i'll be back tomorrow at 3:00. same time, same the fabulous same place with the fabulous fabulous panel. danny kenny and christine the . weather. >> looks like things are heating up. boxt boilers sponsors of weather on gb news. >> good evening. welcome to your latest gb news weather from the met office. so it's been a bit of a drier day for most of us, but there has been a few showers around. low pressure, never too far away out towards the north of pressure of the uk, but higher pressure down south and the down towards the south and the west something west does bring something briefly settled. there have briefly more settled. there have been around and been those showers around and they will continue through much of saturday evening, pushing in from west parts of

from the west across parts of scotland northern ireland, scotland and northern ireland, and see some snow and we could even see some snow continuing across high continuing across the high ground elsewhere though ground here. elsewhere though generally turning much drier through with those through the evening with those clear skies allowing temperatures to drop into the single figures around 7 or 8 degrees south. but degrees across the south. but even further north, even lower further north, perhaps some frost places. so perhaps some frost in places. so a chilly start across scotland, northern england and northern ireland. those showers ireland. but those showers quickly pushing in from the west again go through sunday again as we go through sunday morning and into afternoon. morning and into the afternoon. further bit of a further south, after a bit of a dner further south, after a bit of a drier start to the morning, there be some sunshine there will be some sunshine through of the through the first part of the day, cloud bubbling up day, but some cloud bubbling up as and we could the as well, and we could see the odd 1 or 2 showers across wales and into northern england. less warm saturday. warm than we saw on saturday. highs 14 or in the south highs of 14 or 15 in the south and little bit closer to and a little bit closer to average. further north. monday starts showery starts a widely showery day across the uk. bands of showers push their way south and eastwards through monday morning, and then there will be some some sunnier some breaks and some sunnier spells those showers. spells between those showers. but particularly but there could be particularly heavy north and a brisk heavy in the north and a brisk northwesterly wind make northwesterly wind will make it feel showers continue feel cooler. showers continue through the first part of next

week temperatures below week with temperatures below average, week with temperatures below averagethrough the second milder through the second half of week. of the week.

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